Divorce Mediation and What to Tell the Children

How do you explain your divorce to the children? This is often one of the first questions I am asked in mediation. And correctly so. For most parents their children are their most prized possession. They worry how the children will handle the news of their parents going in separate directions. I recommend working on a parenting plan right away. The danger here is that parents can get consumed by working out their respective access times with the children and forget that the children’s welfare must remain their primary concern.

The separation of their parents is a huge life changing event for children. If mishandled, it can impact them the rest of their lives since a child often will feel stuck in the middle of two parents he or she loves. This is why working on a parenting plan and putting a child’s fears at ease should be the first step in any successful mediation. In my opinion, parents who work together successfully can greatly diminish the impact of a divorce on a child’s life. When, for whatever reason, a child experiences continued anxiety, I can recommend very good child therapists.

If you wish to schedule an initial consultation please contact me at 212-605-0435 or 516-280-3123.