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:

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  How to use “appropriate honesty” to discuss hard truths with your children

  
  


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  When shielding your kids becomes denial, and how to avoid both extremes

  
  


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  Why over-disclosure creates emotional overload and long-term trauma

  
  


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  How to hold safe emotional boundaries while still supporting their curiosity

  
  


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  What to say (and what not to say) when your child finds out about an affair online
  

  
  

Episode Highlights:

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  02:12 – Why viral scandals hit differently when you’re co-parenting

  
  


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  06:45 – Erin’s “need-to-know basis” approach to conscious communication

  
  


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  11:08 – The emotional damage of oversharing vs. age-appropriate truth

  
  


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  15:42 – What to do if you’ve already said too much (and how to walk it back)

  
  


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  23:16 – Can you be honest without vilifying your ex?

  
  


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  29:37 – How kids process betrayal differently than adults do

  
  


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  34:10 – Using trauma-informed parenting to guide difficult conversations

  
  


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  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:

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  Appropriate Honesty – Erin’s approach to tailoring hard truths by age and need

  
  


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  Need-to-Know Communication – Avoiding the trap of emotional dumping

  
  


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  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: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Erin-Morrison/222387676

Get Michelle's courses on navigating divorce and co-parenting: https://bit.ly/MDMPodStore

Get one-on-one coaching from Michelle: https://michelledempsey.com/coaching/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichelleDempsey

Website - https://michelledempsey.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/michelle645

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themichelledempsey1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mldempsey/

LINK TO TRANSCRIPT: htttp://transcripts/moms-moving-on-ep256-talking-to-kids-about-infidelity

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