If you’re considering divorce, then you’ve likely given some thought as to how your child will react and what you can do to help. While every child will react to divorce differently based on their age, coping strategies, and your individual circumstances, your divorce will likely be a difficult period in your child’s life.

However, there are some ways that you can help your child grow, cope, and become a more resilient young adult when the final documents have been signed and you look toward a brighter future. In part one of this two-part series, we’re going to discuss a few ways in which you can support your child as you make your way through the divorce process.

If you need to speak to a divorce attorney in Atlanta, please reach out to Fairell Roy & Associates to schedule a virtual consultation. We can help you with child custody , child support , and the entire divorce process. We make our clients’ needs our own and will do everything we can to help you safeguard your future.

There’s no easy way to break the news that you and your spouse are getting divorced, but it’s necessary to be as honest and upfront as possible when you make the decision. In the best-case scenario, both parents will be present and willing to answer any questions that come up. If your spouse can’t be there, be sure to make it clear that it’s not your child’s fault and avoid blaming or bad-mouthing the other parent.

Balance being honest about what your child can expect in the coming days and weeks, but gauge their reaction to the news before overwhelming them with details they may not need to know just yet. If they seem distraught or worried about the future, you may want to give them time before discussing living arrangements, moving homes, and any other major life changes that may be coming.

Many children cry, lash out, or aren’t sure how to feel once they’ve been told that their parents are getting a divorce. No matter how your child reacts, accept their reaction as a valid expression of their feelings and simply be there to listen. Approach the conversation with empathy and picture how you might feel if you were in their shoes. You’ve considered your options and have had time to prepare for this conversation, but they’re just now hearing the news and may feel surprised and shocked that their world is changing so suddenly. Give them time to process their feelings and let them know that it’s perfectly normal for them to feel sad, angry, or confused.

Your child will want to know what their future looks like once they’ve processed the fact that you and your spouse are getting a divorce. Some of the questions you should prepare to answer include:

You don’t need to have an answer to every question, and in fact, you may not be able to give an answer with certainty when you sit down to talk with your child. As long as you’re honest and build a foundation of trust, you can always revisit the conversation and provide answers at another time.

Divorce has the potential to bring out the worst in us, especially when sensitive issues like child custody and child support are being discussed. However, you and your spouse should do your absolute best to maintain a unified approach to the divorce whenever your child is involved. As we discussed above, avoid blaming the other parent or saying negative things about them when they aren’t around. Your child loves them just as much as they love you, and pitting them against the other parent will only make them more confused and unsure of how to process what’s happening.

On a related note, you should always keep in mind that your behavior could play a role in whether or not you are able to get custody of your child. Try to work cooperatively and remove yourself from the situation if you find yourself getting angry.

Your child will have more questions about the divorce as time goes on. One day they may feel confident about the future and feel like they have a good understanding of what’s happening; on other days, they may need extra reassurance and ask additional questions.

No matter how your child responds to the initial conversation, keep them updated about what’s happening so that they aren’t caught off-guard. If you continually spring major developments on them just before they happen, you’ll likely break down your child’s trust in you and it will be much more difficult to have productive conversations down the road.

We hope that today’s post will help you as you speak with your child about your divorce and prepare to change your life for the better. We will continue discussing this topic in another post, so be sure to come back to our blog page if you would like to learn more.

We also recommend that you follow Fairell Roy & Associates on Facebook ( Facebook.com/FairellFirm ), where we regularly host live sessions in which we answer questions from the chat and our private messages. If you have any questions about your divorce, we invite you to stop by to chat with an Atlanta divorce attorney.

If you need more in-depth assistance and would like the help of a professional attorney as you make your way through the divorce process , contact our office to learn more about how we can help. As experienced family law attorneys, you can trust that we’ll do everything we can to protect your interests and achieve a favorable outcome on your behalf.