Going through a divorce with kids can make issues more complicated. This is because it directly affects other parties besides you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse. Some parents make mistakes during a divorce, and the timing for informing kids is one of them.
Here is when to tell your kids about the divorce:
When you are sure
Telling your kids about a divorce before you and your spouse are certain of it can be confusing, especially if you don’t go through it. You should be sure before informing them.
Further, if you want a divorce but are not planning to start the process immediately, you can take some time. You can inform your children a few weeks before separation. If possible, when you and your spouse have figured out vital issues and have some answers, such as how they will be raised after the divorce, the visitation schedule and so on.
Before a major change
Even though it can help to take some time before informing your kids of the divorce, don’t wait until it’s late – when a significant change like one parent moving out happens.
Thus, ideally, you should not have the conversation too soon or too late. Nonetheless, the sooner you figure out things and talk to them, the better. This is because children can be intuitive – they can easily sense a change in energies at home. You don’t want your kids to have suspicions and start overthinking.
Telling kids about a divorce is not a one-size-fits-all, but you should avoid doing it too soon or too late. However, this may also depend on your kids’ ages. It will be best to get professional guidance to have a manageable divorce process and protect your parental rights.