How Do You Tell Your Children You’re Getting a Divorce

Getting a divorce has many uncomfortable and difficult aspects that must be confronted, one of those being, telling the children. A common question parents who are getting divorced ask themselves is "How do I tell my child (or children) with the minimal amount of upset?" The answer will differ depending upon the age of the child of course and following is a story of how one mother decided to go about the task.

The Family Storybook Provides an Anchor

One mother who was very distraught about telling her 11-year-old son that she and her son's father were getting a divorce decided to get creative. As she and her husband would have arguments sometimes in front the boy, she knew he had an inkling that all was not well between her and his father. She also knew her son loved to look at the family photo album and enjoyed seeing himself at different age levels.

She decided to create a storybook photo album which would take him on a journey through many of the various family events they had all experienced together. As it progressed, it also addressed some of the differences and upsets that had happened which then lead into the communication that dad and mom had decided to get a divorce. She showed the album to her husband before sitting down with their son and the two agreed upon what would be said to make the announcement as painless as possible, breaking it to him as gently as possible.

The Story Book Blossoms

The son did shed some tears but the parents emphasized they would still be there to love and care for the child. Now that the son is a college grad, when asked if he thought this method of communicating about the divorce was suitable, he answered yes. He felt that his parents had made the right decision about their relationship and had successfully moved on with their lives.

The mother wound up writing a guidebook called "How Do I Tell the Kids About the Divorce? A Create-a-Storybook Guide to Preparing Your Children - with Love!" She also started a support network for parents called Child-Centered Divorce, and wound up helping many others in similar situations who were going through divorce.

If you are considering a divorce in the Long Island area, you need to contact a Long Island family law attorney to help you, especially if children are involved. At Jonathan E. Kroll & Associates, we are experienced in family law matters and have successfully handled many divorce cases including child support and child custody matters. Being free from legal worries is important in a divorce. We offer free case evaluations and will answer your questions in confidence.

Contact a Long Island divorce attorney in our office today to set up an appointment.