February 28, 2022
One of the hardest things about getting a divorce is how to prepare your children. As a parent, you want to prepare them for what is happening while not overwhelming them. Discussions about the situation and child time sharing plans should be open, honest, and age-appropriate. Our Illinois divorce lawyer offers some helpful tips.
If you and your spouse are considering a divorce, the odds are your children are aware of the situation. They may have heard the two of you fighting or sensed a growing distance between you. Rather than waiting any longer, it is important to go ahead and address what is happening.
When telling children about an impending divorce, Today’s Parent advises making sure the conversation is age-appropriate. Older children are likely to have more specific questions and will want more details about the situation. Regardless of their ages, though, there are some important things you will want to emphasize:
Once you get past telling your children about your divorce, the next step is preparing them for what will happen next. Under the Illinois Statutes, courts generally favor child time sharing arrangements that allow both parents to remain active and involved in the child’s life. This involves:
Address concerns your children are likely to have about future arrangements, such as maintaining relationships with other relatives, having their own room in each parent’s home, concerns about changing school or extra-curricular activities, and whether they will still have time to spend with friends.
At The Women’s Divorce and Family Law Group, we are dedicated to protecting both parents and their children in divorce proceedings. To find out more about child time sharing plans, reach out and contact our Illinois child time sharing online to request a consultation today.