When going through a divorce, you likely have questions about your child. In particular, after you make the decision, you might wonder: when should you let your child know?
This question nets many different answers with varying opinions and backup. But there is no “right” time to tell your child about divorce. Instead, there are only things you can do to make the transition easier.
Do not wait
Psychology Today discusses when you should tell your child about the upcoming split. Though there is no “right” time, there is a wrong time. In specific, the later you wait to tell your child, the worse it is. You, like many parents, probably want your child to experience as much of a “normal life” as possible. You want them to enjoy living in a two-parent household as long as they can. In reality, this does more harm than good. They need this time to process their situation. Telling them earlier is always better.
Prepare for surprises
After that, the best thing you can do is expect the unexpected and prepare for surprising turnouts. You can and should consider consulting different sources for information on how others have handled this situation. These tips can aid you in your process, too. But every child will react in a different way. You can make an educated guess based on your child’s personality, age and maturity level. But you cannot guess for certain.
You will get the best flexibility by having your co-parent’s aid. Together, you can make plans for potential outcomes of the conversation and predict what questions you may need to field. Working together will also provide your child with a sense of stability and reassurance.
