When you find yourself contemplating a divorce, your mind turns into a tornado of thoughts. And often, the very first thought you have is how to tell your loved ones, especially your children.

It’s so hard to know the right thing to say to your children, and when it is the correct time to tell them.

When we work with divorcing couples, we like to share with them a few suggestions on how to talk to their children about getting a divorce:

• Be 100% sure divorce is the only path forward
• If possible, make sure your partner is present for the conversation
• Explain the situation in an age-appropriate way
• Let your child ask questions
• Never use your child as a pawn against your partner
• Let your children know that you love them
• Reassure them they were not the cause of the divorce
• Let them know what is happening sooner rather than later
• Depending on their age – spare them the details
• Show them that you and your partner are a united front
• Now is not the time to talk about living arrangements or parenting methods – that will come later

Sharing with your children about divorce is a very delicate conversation. When you and your spouse decide to use the collaborative divorce process, you will have the support of mental health professionals, divorce coaches and child specialists who are trained in working with the complex emotions that divorce brings.

At Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Florida, our goal is to help you learn about the collaborative options available to you in your divorce and parenting matters, and to familiarize yourself with the benefits of a collaborative divorce over a litigated divorce and how it can benefit you, your spouse or other parent, and your children.

Contact us today to learn more about collaborative divorce, collaborative family law, and the collaborative process.

Note: This information is general in nature and should not be construed as legal/financial/tax/or mental health advice. You should work with your attorney, financial, mental health or tax professional to determine what will work best for your situation.