The Affair That Shook the World: How To Talk To Your Kids About Infidelity

What should you say when your child asks about a parent’s affair, especially when it's all over social media? In this raw and resonant episode, divorce coach Michelle Dempsey-Multack sits down with conscious parenting expert Erin Morrison to unpack how to talk to children about infidelity, betrayal, and public scandals with age-appropriate empathy. Whether you’re navigating a high-conflict divorce or shielding your kids from adult chaos, this conversation is your go-to guide for Child-First Co-Parenting in an age of viral exposure. What You’ll Learn: How to use “appropriate honesty” to discuss hard truths with your children When shielding your kids becomes denial, and how to avoid both extremes Why over-disclosure creates emotional overload and long-term trauma How to hold safe emotional boundaries while still supporting their curiosity What to say (and what not to say) when your child finds out about an affair online Episode Highlights: 02:12 – Why viral scandals hit differently when you’re co-parenting 06:45 – Erin’s “need-to-know basis” approach to conscious communication 11:08 – The emotional damage of oversharing vs. age-appropriate truth 15:42 – What to do if you’ve already said too much (and how to walk it back) 23:16 – Can you be honest without vilifying your ex? 29:37 – How kids process betrayal differently than adults do 34:10 – Using trauma-informed parenting to guide difficult conversations 38:58 – The only thing you can overcompensate on without hurting your child Meet the Guest: Erin Morrison is a conscious parenting expert, certified coach, and author of Three Minutes for Mom. Known for her trauma-informed, emotionally attuned approach, Erin helps parents navigate challenging conversations with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned: Appropriate Honesty – Erin’s approach to tailoring hard truths by age and need Need-to-Know Communication – Avoiding the trap of emotional dumping Child-First Co-Parenting – A core value of the Moms Moving On® community Closing Insight: “The only thing you can overcompensate for that won’t mess up your kids is your love, your presence, and your intentionality.” — Michelle Dempsey-Multack Parenting through infidelity isn’t about protecting your ego; it’s about protecting your child’s emotional ecosystem. Stay grounded. Stay present. And know that a single conversation done right can rebuild safety. Connect with Erin: Instagram: @itstheconsciousmom Books: Get Michelle's courses on navigating divorce and co-parenting: Get one-on-one coaching from Michelle:

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The Affair That Shook the World: How To Talk To Your Kids About Infidelity is an episode from The Moms Moving On Divorce & Co-Parenting Podcast by Michelle Dempsey-Multack.

This episode is 42:27 long.

This episode was published on Jul 19, 2025.

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