Make no mistake. The decision to dissolve a marriage is never easy, more so when you have children together. As you can imagine, divorce comes with a lot of concerns and challenges, and one of them has to do with how you will prepare your children for life after the divorce.
Amidst the anxiety and uncertainty, you may wonder how you will break the bad news to your children without hurting their emotions. Well, a good first step is to appreciate that your children do not have to pay the price for your life decisions.
Here are two steps that can help you prepare your children for the divorce.
Keep the communication door open
The divorce period is usually tense. Communication between the spouses may be at an all-time low during this period and kids will certainly take note of this. However, it is important that you both assure the children that they are not the reason for the divorce. It is important that you inform the kids about the decision to divorce together.
Reassure the children of your unconditional love
Children are soothed by continued assurance. It is important that you reassure your children that mom and dad will always love and be there for them. Kids sometimes use actions to pass their messages around. So be sure to look out for mood indicators. For instance, a child could suddenly take to a disobedient or combative behavior to find out if they are still loved by both parents. It is important that both parents are consistent in their love, affection and expectations of the children.
Children will react to the news of their parents’ divorce in different ways. Find out how you can safeguard your children’s rights and interests during the divorce process.