When you decide on a divorce, you may feel a weight lift from your shoulders. At the same time, you will have other hurdles to face. For example, you will have to decide how to break the news to your child.
While experts agree that you should broach the topic sooner rather than later, the rest is a gray area. What you choose to do depends entirely on your unique situation.
Cooperating with your co-parent
Psychology Today talks about broaching the difficult topic of divorce with your child. As mentioned, experts generally agree that you should bring it up sooner rather than later. They also believe that it is prudent for you and your co-parent to work together. This is crucial for many reasons. First, it will provide your child with a sense of stability and comfort. It also allows the two of you to ensure that no one tries to manipulate the narrative.
Working together lets you plan for questions in advance, too. You can come up with a list of questions you think your child might ask. You can also decide where to draw your lines. Your child deserves honesty, but they do not need to hear the entire story behind the split.
Prepare for anything
Finally, understand that you cannot predict every possible outcome. You can make guesses based on your child’s age, personality and maturity level. But there is no way to tell how any child will handle news of a divorce until you break the news. Prepare yourself to face any reaction and know that the most important thing is reassurance. Reassure your child that you will support and love them no matter what, even as things change in the future.
