You may not admit it, but sometimes the headlines that scream at us through gossip magazines may catch our attention. After all, who doesn’t want to know if an A-list celebrity is getting divorced because of infidelity, especially if it was with the family nanny?
While it may be business as usual for news about a celebrity’s divorce to be broadcast through mainstream channels, the same may not be best for the average person. The children involved in these situations may experience much more emotional damage than their parents may realize if they learn about their parents’ breakup through the grapevine.
Because of this, it is important for parents to follow a few helpful guidelines when telling their kids about a divorce.
Present a united front – Kids should be informed by both parents about their divorce, and it should be done at the same time. At this point, there should be no fault or blame laid at anyone’s feet, and the kids should be reassured that it is not their fault.
Dispel the rumors – As we alluded to earlier, some information may be leaked to third parties, which could become fodder to make kids (and sometimes adults) feel bad. Rumors can be really tough (i.e. drug or alcohol abuse, criminal allegations), especially when they are not true. So it is best to dispel any rumors about your divorce or the proceedings.
Keep it clean – Nothing is more harmful than one parent spreading bad news or information about the other during a divorce proceeding. Not only is it hurtful for kids to know about this, family court judges are not impressed by one parent sandbagging another parent.