Divorce can be a complicated subject to talk about with just about anyone. It may be more difficult to talk about your divorce with your teenager. They’re going through a lot of hormonal changes and experiencing a lot of new emotions. As their parent, you may fear that talking about your divorce may be the tip of the iceberg for your teenager.
Your teenager will learn about your divorce one way or another. You may be able to help ease your child into their new reality by talking to them early. How might you have this talk with your teenager? Here’s what you should know:
Don’t complicate the conversation
You’re considerably more involved in the divorce process than your teenager, but that doesn’t mean you should talk about every little detail. You may want to consider talking openly about your divorce and simplify some of the harder-to-explain topics.
For example, you may want to talk about why the divorce is happening. You could say that the divorce is happening because there were unresolved issues with your kid’s other parent.
You could also discuss the changes the divorce may bring about. For instance, you could talk about how your kid will need to change schools after the divorce. You might also discuss who your child will live with and how often each parent would see them.
Allow your kids to ask questions
Your teen is likely very curious at this age. Allowing teens to ask questions can help them grow to understand the world around them. Some of their questions might be easy. For instance, your child could ask whether they will get to keep their room. However, certain queries might be more difficult, such as when they get to see each parent.
Learning about your legal options and how a child custody arrangement will operate after your divorce may be helpful before you speak to your teenager. Knowing what will change may help you communicate with your adolescent more confidently.
