Divorce, separation or death often places financial pressures on the family. Communicate this situation openly to your children, as age and understanding dictate. They should feel part of, not alienated from, new realities affecting your family. Reach out for help if necessary. Friends and family can often be important pillars in times of crisis.
Counselors can also provide valuable direction and professional advice.
Do not encourage your children to make other people feel sorry for them because of their loss. By dealing with the divorce or loss with honesty, they will realize that life, although difficult at times, goes on. Encourage your children to talk to you about their feelings. If they are unable to talk to you, encourage them to speak to someone else. In the early stages of divorce or separation, relate as many important details as possible to children, concerning where they will live, when they will see the other parent, what they will tell their friends, etc.