Divorce / Infidelity

Helping Kids Understand Why Some Details Are Kept Private

Amy Bassett-Wells M.Ed., LPC Associate (April West, LPC-S)

Therapy-Tree Mental Health Counseling

Trauma Informed Care Across Texas

Don't Let Your Trauma Be Their Trauma.

When something painful happens in your relationship—like infidelity or separation—it can be difficult to know what (and how much) to share with your child. Many parents find themselves stuck between wanting to be honest… and wanting to protect their child from hurt they’re not ready to carry.

This guide will help you navigate those questions with care, using something called "boundaried love"—a way of being open while still honoring your child’s developmental and emotional needs.

Some Details Are Too Heavy For Children.

Children may ask questions like:

• “Why are you and Dad fighting?”

• “What did Mom do that made you so mad?”

• “Is it because of me?”

These questions are heartbreaking—and also very real and justified. It’s important to answer with love, but also with protection. Validate their questions without providing all the facts. Kids don’t need to carry the full story to feel safe and reassured.

You might say:

“This is something the adults are working through. It’s not your fault, and you’re safe and deeply loved by both of us. Our love for you will never change.”

This is not secrecy—it’s boundaried love.

Why Kids Don't Get All The Details

Kids are still developing the tools to process adult emotions, betrayals, and relational complexity. Sharing too much—especially about infidelity or conflict—can lead to:

• Confusion or anxiety

• Guilt or self-blame

• An urge to take sides or fix things

Just like you wouldn’t burden your child with:

• Money stress

• Medical scares

• Your own past trauma

You don’t need to share every detail of what’s happening between you and your partner. It’s your job to protect their emotional safety, not to process your pain with them.

Be Mindful, Kids Are Always Listening

Even when they don’t appear to be paying attention, kids hear a lot. If you’re experiencing conflict with your partner or talking about your partner—or about what happened—take a moment to check:

• Is your child within earshot?

• Are they watching TV but still absorbing the tone of your voice?

• Have they overheard emotionally charged conversations?

“Children watch more than they listen—but they hear everything.”

What they overhear can hurt them more than what you carefully choose to share.

Watch For Parentification

When children feel like they have to emotionally support a parent, it’s called parentification—and it can be deeply damaging. This happens when a child:

• Tries to comfort or “fix” an emotionally distressed parent

• Becomes their parent’s confidant

• Feels responsible for adult decisions

When children are burdened with adult knowledge, they feel responsible for their parent’s emotional well-being. This impacts their own mental health and development.

It’s okay for your child to know you’re sad. But it’s not okay for them to become the one helping you through it. They need to know you are still the safe base.

How To Respond

You can still respond honestly, just within boundaries:

• “This is between the adults, and we’re working through it.”

• “It’s not your job to fix anything. You’re safe, and we both love you.”

• “You can always ask questions. I may not tell you everything, but I’ll always help you feel safe.”

When Your Child Feels Safe, Healing Can Happen

Your child doesn’t need every detail—they just need to feel steady, seen, and safe.

Whether you are going through relational issues, experiencing betrayal trauma / infidelity (either side), or recently separated, what you are experiencing is very traumatic--you need a place to process what you’re going through, too. When your child see that you are emotionally regulated, your child will feel more regulated, calm, and secure.

Therapy can help both of you:

Understand what’s happening
Grieve big changes and life transitions
Build emotional safety and resilience
Process traumatic events that may have occurred

Connect with Amy below for a free consultation or to schedule a visit.