Baltimore County Family Lawyer Discusses Talking To Your Kids About Divorce
If you are a parent going through a divorce, you may be having a difficult time trying to figure out where and when to have “the talk” with the children. Undoubtedly, you have probably had many sleepless nights in an effort to attempt to come up with the right words to say to explain the situation. You may not feel as though you are prepared at all for the conversation; however, a recent Huffington Post article shares some tips for parents to use based on the age of the child.
Talking to Pre-Schoolers About Baltimore County Divorce.
For obvious reasons, if your children are very small, there is really no need to have a conversation about the divorce, primarily because they typically aren’t able to process what you’re telling them in a meaningful way. However, if the children are a little older -- even pre-school age -- any conversation about the divorce should be kept as simple and basic as possible.
Parents of children this age are encouraged to stick to the main points and advise them that, while some things may change, many things will remain the same with their day-to-day routines. And most importantly, parents will want to stress to the children that both parents still love them regardless of what’s going on at the time and assure them that they all will be okay.
The Elementary Years and Child Custody.
Those with kids in elementary school should expect many questions after they’ve been told about the divorce. Kids this age are usually quite inquisitive anyway, so it is highly likely that you will get many questions. Why are you getting a divorce? Why don’t you love mommy/daddy any more? Are you sad?
All of these questions should be answered as simply as possible, and again, you should always let the children know that they are still loved by both parents just the same. You should also be aware that some children in this age bracket may not show or demonstrate their feelings about the situation, so they should be checked on regularly to ensure they are dealing with the situation in a healthy way.
Older Children in Harford County & Baltimore County.
Having the divorce conversation with kids who are in middle school or high school will likely be a different experience. Children this age may have very strong opinions and reactions to the situation, some of which may range from anger to sadness or a combination of both. Still, when dealing with children this age, it is crucial for parents to be as honest as possible when answering questions -- all while not sharing every single detail about the divorce (unless the details are appropriate for children to hear).
Parents should also remember to watch their own demeanor when speaking with the children. If they see calm, mild-tempered parents, they may be inclined to remain calm and mild-tempered about the changes as well.
As mentioned a few times above, when it comes to having “the divorce talk,” the key to dealing with children of all ages is to make certain they feel as though they still have your full support and love throughout the entire situation and beyond. If you are a parent going through divorce and you have questions or concerns about dealing with your children during this time, contact a Towson divorce lawyer at the Law Offices of Amar Weisman, LLC to discuss the specifics of your case.
Call (410) 321-4994 For a Free Consultation with a Towson Family Law Lawyer.
Call The Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman at (410) 321-4994 to schedule a Free Consultation. The Purpose of the consultation is to determine whether you want to retain this law firm as your Baltimore County & Harford County Family Lawyer. If you do wish to proceed, then you must pay a retainer. See Our Policy on Fees and Costs. The family firm is located next to The Circuit Court for Baltimore County, at 1018 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204.
