A divorce can have a profound impact on your mental, physical and financial health, and it can also have a significant impact on your children’s well-being. Therefore, it is important that you take great care in telling them that your marriage is about to come to an end. In California, both parents generally have the right to remain in their children’s lives after a divorce. Therefore, it may be a good idea to make this announcement jointly with your spouse to ensure that your child understands that no one is going anywhere.
You don’t have to include unnecessary details
Ideally, you’ll simply tell your children that the relationship simply wasn’t working out and that it was in everyone’s best interest to go their separate ways. By not blaming your spouse for the split, you won’t diminish your former partner in the eyes of your kids. Furthermore, it makes it easier to maintain a friendly relationship with someone who you will need to rely on until your son or daughter is an adult.
It’s never your child’s fault
You should never blame your children for your divorce or imply that they had anything to do with the end of your relationship. This is true even if the pressure of being a parent caused tension in your marriage. It’s also important to remember that your child should not be a source of emotional support in the aftermath of a divorce. Instead, you need to be the one who is there for your children as they navigate a significant change in their life. It’s worth noting that trying to manipulate your child in any way may be used against you in family law court or at other points during the divorce process.
Your children deserve to hear the truth about the status of your marriage directly from you. Although you’ll want to tailor the message based on their age and maturity level, it’s important that you make it clear that the relationship is over and that it cannot be reconciled.
