While your divorce attorney can help you handle most areas of a divorce, it is up to you and your spouse to tell your children about it. Whether the kids are teens or younger, plan what you’ll say and prepare for their reactions. Following the tips listed here can help you handle this difficult conversation.

4 Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Divorce

1. Limit What You Say

Remember that talking to your children is different from talking with your divorce attorney, so decide ahead of time which topics are off-limits. For instance, avoid placing blame for the break-up and don’t speak negatively about each other when your children are around. In general, the discussion should focus on how the divorce affect the kids.

2. Hold a Family Meeting

No matter how you feel about each other, you and your spouse must communicate and learn how to cooperate as separated parents. Begin by talking to your kids about the divorce together. If you present a united front from the start, you can help them understand that they still have both parents. Your ability to continue parenting together also helps a family law judge create a custody arrangement that’s fair to everyone in the family.

3. Be Open to Questions

If you think back to the first meeting you had with a divorce attorney, you probably recall asking many questions about the legal process. Similarly, your children likely have questions about how the divorce affects them. Some questions may seem obvious or trivial, but remember they have fears about how the divorce will change their lives.

4. Check On Your Kids

Over the next few weeks and longer, the kids will process the news. While younger children may react strongly right away, older children often need more time to digest the fact of the divorce. In either case, this isn’t a situation kids deal with and move past. They may experience a broad range of emotions over time, so make continual efforts to check on them and offer emotional support.

If your marriage has reached a point where reconciliation is no longer possible, consult a divorce attorney. Kennedy, Kennedy, Robbins & Yarbro, LC, is located in Poplar Bluff, MO, and the firm’s partners have more than 70 years of collective experience. Trust their legal team to give your case the personal attention it deserves. To learn more about their areas of practice, visit their website. To set up an initial consultation, call (573) 686-2459.