There are many reasons that couples in Pennsylvania decide to get divorced. This can be a difficult decision to make and it certainly can be a difficult time for the entire family. Splitting up a shared life is not easy, especially when the couple have children. The children’s lives will be completely different and they generally do not have a say in why their lives are completely changing.
The age of the children at the time of the divorce will often dictate the exact way that parents will discuss divorce, but there are ways to handle the conversation which are better than others.
Tips for discussing divorce with children
It is important to have a plan and know what people will say to the children. It is important it is not done casually on the fly or during a time when the children are distracted with other events.
The discussion should also occur with all the children together at the same time. This protects against different children receiving different messages at different times.
Make sure it is abundantly clear that the divorce is not the fault of the children. Also, make sure that one parent is not blamed in front of the children and it is clear that both parents came to conclusion to divorce.
Discuss what changes are going to be made in their lives due to the divorce. Also, explain what will remain the same. Explain which parent will be moving out of the house and where they will be living.
Be prepared to offer reassurance to the children that it has nothing to do with them and that both parents will still be their parents and love them.
Divorce in Pennsylvania is becoming more and more common, but that does not make it any easier on children as the parents divorce. They will need to adapt to a new life that they were not expecting. Talking through the changes with the children is very important, but that is just the start of the process, there are many more steps and decisions that will occur regarding the children throughout the divorce. Experienced attorneys understand these difficult situations and may be able to guide one through it.
