When parents announce that they’re getting a divorce, it’s good to take time to talk to their children and answer their questions. Often, children are going to have very different questions than parents will, and it can give them a better sense of security and stability if they get answers.
Of course, every situation is unique, so children may have specific questions relating to their family’s personal situation. But below are some examples of common questions many kids ask.
10 common questions
If you are moving toward divorce, consider the following questions your children may have:
- Who is going to take care of me?
- Where am I going to live?
- Is our whole family still going to live together?
- Why did you decide to get a divorce?
- Are you going to get back together eventually?
- Are we going to have to move?
- Will I still get to see my friends or be in the same school?
- Is the divorce my fault?
- What happens to my siblings?
- What happens to our house?
In some cases, children may actually be opposed to the divorce and may ask what happens if they don’t want you to go through with it.
It can be difficult to have these conversations, but just focus on your child’s best interests. Make sure that you stress that it’s not their fault. This is often very obvious to adults, but children do worry about it, so it’s important to tell them repeatedly that they did not cause the divorce. Also, just give them time and space to have these conversations as they work through the process.
At the same time, you need to be aware of your legal rights as a parent. Consider how you will divide parenting time and other custody rights.