For you, the main focus of the divorce may be financial. You have significant assets to divide up, and you need to figure out your post-divorce budget.
For your children, though, concerns are very different. They worry about things like consistency and how the divorce will impact their daily life. They’re typically not worried about the financial side of things and more concerned with the emotional and relational aspects.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to consider when telling them about the coming divorce:
- Try to tell them together so that you, your spouse and your kids can all talk it over.
- Don’t wait until the last second or hide it from them.
- Be honest and try to keep things as simple as possible.
- Understand that they may feel upset and sad, and allow them to feel that way.
- Reassure them so that they know they did not cause the divorce.
- Stress that you both love them, and you will both remain involved in their lives.
- Don’t talk about any issues you have with your spouse. You do not want to insult someone who is still going to be such a large part of the child’s life, no matter how you feel about your ex.
These tips can help things go smoothly. Remember that divorce can have a large impact on your kids and you must take that seriously.
At the same time, make sure you understand all of your custody rights. Figuring out your new relationship with your children should be more important than the financial details of the divorce.