What is the best way and age to tell a kid of a single parent, that the other parent desn’t have a valid reason to be absent?

9 comments

  3. You don’t.

    If they ask, you BS a little, like “it’s probably a work thing”, or something along those lines.

  4. You don’t.

    If they ask, be blunt without any details.

    “They aren’t here because they don’t want to be. I don’t know why. It’s nothing to do with you. Some people just don’t want to be parents”

  5. I don’t think there is one because I don’t think that’s an appropriate discussion to have with a child. In that situation, I would recommend saying that you don’t know what their reasons are, but that it’s definitely not the child’s fault. The other parent can answer about their reasons. It’s not up to me to judge the validity of that person’s reasons to be absent. If they are an absent parent, the kids will notice that and judge the reasons for themselves.

  6. Never, Let them live with love. Don’t teach children to focus on the negative.

  7. You don’t. You say the other parent loves them very much, but wasn’t able to be there for them right now. You thinking they don’t have a valid reason does not mean they don’t. Not only that, it can be really hard for a kid to hear that their parent just decided to walk out on them. I get the resentment, I was on my own with my daughter for 8 yrs. 8 yrs of father’s days & birthdays & holidays & father/ daughter dances & seeing friends go off with their dads. & When she asked, I said exactly that. & When her father was ready to be a dad, he came back, & worked hard to earn the relationship they have now. She’s not blind, she sees his faults. & She doesn’t hold her feelings back from him.

  8. Ask them what they think the reason is first!! This is very important! Then you know where their head is at. Go from there and emphasize that is not their fault.

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