Depending on your divorce, it is possible that you have embarked on one of the most difficult emotional journeys of your life. While you know that you'll come out just fine on the other side, getting to that finish line can take a toll. Remember: You don't have to do this alone. You are surrounded by people in your life who care and want to be there for you.
As you share your news with those closest to you, you're likely going to hear the words: "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help." That answer isn't a cop-out. (Although it would probably feel better if they could understand what you need without you having to speak up.) Nevertheless, we like to think of those words as a request in disguise: I need you to tell me what I can do to help you because I'm not sure what you need, and I don't want to overstep my boundaries.
Sometimes, the hardest part is letting those people know how to help. The best way you can help others help you is to think in advance about what you want and need so you can communicate that upfront when you tell people about your divorce. (Yes, you can ask for support! After all, you've probably been there for your loved ones a thousand times over.)
We have a few ideas on how to kickstart that conversation.
Decide what kind of support you want
Everyone is different. You might bare your soul on your sleeve, or maybe you prefer to keep your emotions to yourself. Knowing how much you want to share and what kind of help you need or are willing to accept is the first step to getting the support you want.
Think about the following areas:
Communication
- At the end of a long day, how would you be happiest to hear from someone? An email? A tag in a social media post? A surprise phone call? An old-fashioned letter?
- How often do you enjoy hearing from people? Weekly? Once a month? How much is too much?
Action
- Identify at least three things that you'd be comfortable with a nearby friend or family member taking off your plate. Picking up the kids from soccer practice? A free hour of babysitting? Dropping off dinner? A discount coupon to their favorite meal prep service? A surprise visit with a bottle of wine and a box of tissues? Have three concrete actions on hand that you know would truly help you, and you'll be ready to suggest at least one of those actions the moment your loved one asks what they can do to help.
- Can your loved ones help you share the news so you don't have to have the same conversation again and again? This is a great way to have close family and friends help you. Just be sure you let them know what you'd like them to say and how they should respond if extended loved ones want to reach out or help.
Expectations
- Think about the boundaries you want to set. If you have a friend or family member who might go overboard in responding with helpfulness, it's better to set boundaries from the moment you share the news rather than having a difficult conversation down the road in an already difficult time.
- Think about how often you plan to communicate about your divorce. Let people know you'll keep them updated as events progress, or let them know you'll be in touch when the divorce is final. Words like these signal to your loved ones how often they should expect to hear updates from you.
Decide who needs to know your news and when
You don't have to tell everyone at once. Think about the groups of people in your life. Who needs to know now? Who would you prefer to share the news with later? Deciding who needs to know, and when, will help you control the message when you're ready to communicate your news.
Audiences might include:
- Your children: They will be impacted most, and they have a right to hear about your divorce directly from you. Keeping them informed and in the loop helps assure them that everything will be okay in the end. And, keeping them informed of your plans to communicate with others can help you stay in control of the message (when it gets out, and to whom). While it's usually best to plan and time what you say with your spouse, that's not always possible. Remember, you can't control everything your spouse does or says, but you can be mindful of what you tell your kids. Be loving and consistent. Remind them that you are OK and they will be, too. They will absolutely get the message.
- Your parents and grandparents: If you're close with this audience, telling them sooner rather than later is a given. If you're not, think about how you'd feel if they heard the news from someone other than you because, as word gets out, this is likely to happen.
- Extended family (aunts uncles, cousins): Will you see members of this audience at upcoming holidays or birthdays? They'll definitely notice if your spouse is not in the room.
- Your close friends: They might be the first group you tell, before anyone else. Make sure they know how much or how little they should share in case they are approached by someone else in your circle.
- Mutual friends with whom you'd like to remain friends: Divorce will change the way you interact with mutual friends, but it doesn't have to end it. Let your mutual friends know that you want to stay in their lives and plan to keep them in yours. Let them know you expect them to remain friendly with your ex as well. If you need to take a "break" from some of them, that's okay, too.
- Parents of your children's friends: Depending on your relationship with your soon-to-be ex, you might need to let the parents of your children's friends know about your situation. This could help avoid awkwardness or miscommunication about play dates or shared rides to and from extracurricular activities.
- Your boss or direct reports: If you will need to be out of the office frequently for mediation or court proceedings, it might be better to come clean from the outset rather than risk becoming the focus of office gossip.
Develop a plan to share your news
Now's the time to break out the pen and paper. You've already thought about what you need in terms of support and who needs to know your news (and when). Next question: How will you tell close friends and family about your divorce? Some people in your life are appropriate to email. Others require a phone call. For still others, it may be best to send a handwritten letter.
In general:
| Communication Method | Best for: |
|---|---|
| Face to Face | Those who will be most impacted emotionally and those most directly impacted on a day-to-day basis by your divorce and proceedings. Your children, possibly your parents, and possibly your boss/team at work. |
| Phone Call | Those whom you can’t sit down with due to distance. Those who will have several questions; they’ll be easier to answer at once rather than back and forth over email. |
| Handwritten Letter | If you know the news will be hard for the person to take and want to make sure they truly digest and process what you say, a handwritten letter can help. |
| Those who need to know the news but whom you do not want to engage with in extended dialogue. An email lets you 1) tell your news, 2) set boundaries upfront, 3) let people know you are open to help (if you are), and 4) set expectations about when you will share updates about the status of your divorce. | |
| Social Media | If you want to tell everyone in your world at once. Use caution with this method: if possible, consider blocking comments on your post so you aren’t prompted to answer questions you’re not ready to answer in a large forum. |
Tips for communicating your news
- Tell people you're open to their help during this time (if you are). This opens the window for friends and family to ask how they can help. That's when you break out your handy list of three or more ideas.
- Tell people how you plan to communicate with them or how they should communicate with you. For example: "I'd love to hear from you, but I know you'll understand if I prefer not to talk about this difficult process on a regular basis. I'll definitely let you know if I need a shoulder to cry on! Otherwise, let's catch up about happier topics. Hearing from you every few weeks will give me a much-needed break from this process."
- Let them know what they should or should not say to others about your news. For example: "This news is really hard for me to share, so I would actually appreciate your help in spreading the word. That will save me the pain of having to tell this story again and again." Or, "This news is hard to share, so I appreciate your confidence. I'd like to be the one to break the news to x, y, z so they hear it from me first."
This is your divorce. It's your news to share on your terms. But if you give your friends and family a little insight into your wishes, you'll make it easier for them to help you the way you want to be helped.
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