Going through a divorce? Expect these questions from your child

Posted by Cynthia Madison on February 28th, 2018

PThey know that telling them about this major change will spark unexpected reactions, most of the times leading to negative discussions so they develop together a plan on how to approach this topic. Predicting the reaction of their child is very important because it allows them to prepare the right answers in advance. Taking into consideration his age is helpful because it gives them a hint regarding his capability of understanding such massive events. For instance, an adolescent is more aware of things happening around him in comparison to an infant. We can even say that divorcing parents having a teenager should already expect him to anticipate their separation because he feels the lack of communication in the house. In fact, he might be the one bringing up the subject of divorce. In this case, parents need to be ready to handle all sorts of questions.

Expect to questions regarding his home, school and friends

Of course, the child will not care about the legal procedures required by this process. It is your job to find a good Las Vegas divorce lawyer, reach an agreement regarding custody and alimony. However, he is going to ask about family matters. For instance, one of the most common questions kids ask divorcing parents refers to potential changes in your home. “Is he going to continue living with both of his parents?” and “Is he going to have to move out?” are two normal questions that you need to expect after filing for divorce. Secondly, he will immediately start thinking about school so you need to be honest with him and assure him that your divorce is not going to affect his life significantly. You have to be aware that by changing your child’s routine, you are practically taking away his feeling of stability and safety. Therefore, as parents, you should do as much as you can not to shape up the life of your little one.  Do not force him to make other friends and adopt different habits, unless necessary.

Expect to emotional questions regarding your love for him and parenting

Apart from home and social changes, they will also think about the emotional side of your decision. Common questions include: “do you still love each other?”, “will you ever get back together?” and “will we ever live together again in the same house?” You should try to respond as honestly as possible without breaking his heart. Indeed, it is difficult but you are the adult one and you need to handle the situation correctly. Obviously, you and your ex spouse will never live in the same house, but you can tell your child that he can still have you both. Other heartbreaking questions that you will receive are “was it my fault?”, “did I did something wrong?” You should never let your child believe that he caused your separation. He is just a confused victim and you have to clear his doubts, when possible.