Your marriage is over and now you have the heart-wrenching task of telling your children. How should you break the news?
Tell them together. Barring a harmful or abusive situation, your children need you both to continue parenting together.
Even if your children are at different ages of maturity, they need to hear the announcement as a family, says Dr. Martye Barnard, a pediatric psychologist.
After that, you and your spouse should talk to each individual child. When you discuss your break-up, keep in mind that different age groups typically require different approaches:
Preschoolers
“It’s amazing how much (preschoolers) understand,” Barnard says. “They’re pretty insightful, but they don’t understand the time element quite like the grade schooler or high schooler would. When you say this is going to happen this month, it doesn’t make sense to them.”
Adrienne Dreher, a family counselor, suggests using a calendar to help your preschooler count the days to when she will see each parent.
“Children need to have stability and know what to expect. The sooner a regular parenting plan that works for everyone can be set up, the better,” she says.
Wondering what your child is feeling? Children often express feelings through play, Dreher says. Also, read age-appropriate books together, like “The Way I Feel” series, to help your child learn to share his feelings, including anger, sadness, and loss.
School-age
Define what divorce means by explaining that you and your spouse will no longer be living under the same roof. Again, explain that the divorce is not about your child, but avoid blaming the other parent for the divorce.
“None of the adult stuff should be shared with the kids,” Barnard says. “Those kids really need to be reassured that they have parents that love them.”
Adolescence
As children enter adolescence, parents may be tempted to explain the divorce. Barnard urges parents to avoid sharing details of why the divorce happened.
“I know adults that aren’t old enough to understand it,” she says.
Address guilt
Reassure your children that they did nothing to cause the divorce. Explain to them that even though you are no longer married, you are their parents first and your love for them won’t change.
Grief is normal
Grief associated with divorce occurs without closure since, unlike death, there’s no funeral.
“Children grieve very much like they grieve if one of the parents had died or if they had lost a sibling,” Barnard says.
If your child’s grief doesn’t lessen over time or if she expresses a wish to die (even a preschooler), consult with a counselor or child psychologist. The most common sign of depression among school-aged children is irritability, including acting out, disrespect, and misbehavior at home and school.
Manage wishful thinking
Children often fantasize about their parents getting back together and may continue to harbor these hopes for years.
“It’s very, very difficult for kids to put closure on that and to understand that that’s not going to happen,” Barnard says. Gently remind your children periodically that you and your ex won’t be remarrying.
Help children cope
Whenever possible, continue to partner as parents to your children by attending school activities, parent-teacher conferences, and birthdays together. And, don’t turn your child into the go-between messenger.
“If you have a message to give your former spouse, that should be done by phone. If that’s not possible because of anger, then e-mail or text,” Barnard says. If possible, avoid dating for at least a year to help your children adjust.
Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines specializes in family communication issues. She is the mom of two boys and the author of “Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.”
Questions to anticipate
When preparing to tell children you and your spouse are divorcing, expect to hear the following, or variations of these common questions:
• Does this mean that Daddy (or Mommy) isn’t going to live with us?
• Does this mean we won’t see him (her) anymore?
• Does this mean we won’t do things as a family anymore?
• Did I do something wrong? (Your child might not ask this question aloud, but she may wonder if she’s somehow to blame.)
Source: Dr. Martye Barnard, University of Kansas Hospital
Children’s books about divorce
Need additional resources? Local bookstores, your library, and Amazo
“Two Homes” by Claire Masurel
“It’s Not Your Fault, Ko Ko Bear” by Vicki Lansky
“Was it the Chocolate Pudding? A Story for Little Kids about Divorce” by Sandra Levins
“Standing on My Own Two Feet: A Child’s Affirmation of Love in the Midst of Divorce” by Tamara Schmitz
“Dinosaurs Divorce (A Guide for Changing Families)” by Marc Brown and Laurie Krasny Brown
Films dealing with divorce
Movies can help facilitate conversation between parent and child. Check out these flicks:
• “Because of Winn Dixie”
• “Mrs. Doubtfire”
• “Hope Floats”
• “Step-Mom”
• “Trevor Romaine: Taking the ‘Duh’ out of Divorce”
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