Divorcing Arizona residents have a lot of stressful decisions ahead. But parents like you have your child to worry about, too. First, you must deal with legal aspects like child support payments and custody.
But it is also important for you to decide how you will handle non-legal elements. For example, have you decided how you will break the news yet?
Preparing to talk to your child
Psychology Today looks at ways to prepare your child for divorce. Different strategies work for different families. What works for your friend may not work for you. This is important to keep in mind. You should tailor your approach to your family. After all, you know it best.
But there are some things you can do in general to make the process smoother. For example, keep your children in the loop. The unknown is one of the scariest things. If you keep your child informed, they have less of that unknown to worry about. Make sure they know which parent is leaving the home. Let them know what will change. Tell them what will stay the same. If they ask questions, do your best to answer. Just do not go into too many details. They do not need to know everything, and should not know certain details.
Be a team with your co-parent
Next, present a unified front. Decide on a non-blaming narrative. Think of what you want to say before you have the conversation. Present it together with your spouse, rather than one at a time. This provides reassurance to the child. It allows you to keep each other in check, too. And remember, make sure your child understands that they are not to blame for the divorce.
