Going through a divorce can be challenging, especially if you have a child with your soon to be ex-spouse.
While you need to make decisions that benefit you and your finances, you also have to consider the well-being of your child. If you don’t, you could find that everyone ends up in a worse position in the near future.
There are many steps you can take to prepare for the divorce conversation with your child, including the following:
- Write down what you want to say. It’s hard to imagine, but you may find yourself stumbling and lost for words when speaking with your child about divorce and what it means to him or her. When you write down what you want to say, you won’t find yourself searching for answers.
- Schedule a time that makes sense for the both of you. You don’t want to talk about your divorce when you’re driving your child to school in the morning. Instead, you should schedule a time where the both of you can really sit down to discuss everything.
- Be open to answer all questions. You never know what your child will ask, so make sure you keep an open mind and provide the best answers possible. This can be a challenge, but it’s something you have to do.
- Put yourself in your child’s shoes. Adults and children don’t think alike. So, while you may have a clear idea of why divorce is the answer, your child may have a difficult time understanding why it’s necessary. When you put yourself in his or her shoes, it’s easier to move through the conversation in an efficient manner.
- Remember that there is more than the initial conversation. It’s good to get everything out in the open, but don’t assume that this one conversation is the last one you will have with your child. There may come a time down the road, maybe even in the near future, when he or she has another question or concern.
By taking these steps you will find yourself better prepared for the divorce conversation with your child. You may still be nervous, but at least you’ll have a clear idea of what you should and shouldn’t be doing.
As you work through things with your spouse, be sure that you also focus on what’s best for you from a legal perspective. You never want to lose sight of what you should be doing to better your life.