Massachusetts parents like you often worry about how your child will handle the upcoming divorce. Unfortunately, this can lead to hesitation that might potentially make things even harder on your child.
When it comes to telling your child about divorce, you may need to dive right in and do it. After all, hesitation could do more harm than good.
Do not wait to tell them
Psychology Today talks about breaking news of divorce to your kid. The first thing they note is that you should tell your child sooner rather than later. The longer you put it off, the less time they will have to cope with this new and sudden change. This can heighten feelings of fear, agitation, anger and insecurity. It also gives them little to no time to work through their emotional reaction, which might result in repression.
After that, you should tailor your approach based on your child’s age, personality and maturity level. No two child is the same. Likewise, no two approaches to important news will work exactly the same with every child. Workshop a bit with your co-parent to decide what you want to go for.
Work with your co-parent
Related to that, working with your co-parent is crucial. No matter what, you and your co-parent should present a unified front. Obviously, it is impossible to get along constantly during a divorce. But you can take steps to diminish the tension. For example, do not talk to your child after recent arguments. Do not argue in front of your child.
From there, work together to stay on the same page. Know what information you want to share and what to keep to yourself. This will allow you to help ease them into the transition better.