Explaining to your children that Brad and Angelina are getting a divorce

It's possible that a time will come in which a parent must explain their divorce to their child.

However, it's guaranteed that a time will come in which a parent must break the news of a celebrity's divorce to their kids.

SEE ALSO: Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt

Today, it was announced that Angelia Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. The news was so massive, that a literal earthquake happened at the time of the press release.

And as a parent in the year 2016, it is absolutely your responsibility to tell your kids about this divorce in a way for them to understand and respond in an emotionally healthy way.

You might ask, "Well, what if my kids don't know who Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are? Why should I explain the divorce to them then?"

There is no circumstance in which you shouldn't break the news about Brad and Angelina's divorce during tonight's family dinner, not even that it's Taco Tuesday.

Again, it is your responsibility to educate your children about celebrity culture. If your kids don't know about Brangelina, you need to write the term on the blank side on an index card right now. Later, you must tell them that the Oscar-winner from Girl, Interruptedis divorcing the actor fromFight Club.

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It's best your kids hear the news from you directly, rather than through a game of Telephone/Whisper-down-the-lane at recess. While the news is urgent, there's no need to pick your children up early from school in order to tell them. In fact, take the next few hours to prepare your remarks.

Here are some steps to keep in mind to help you effectively communicate to your kids the Brangelina split and its societal implications.

Tell them the facts.

Do not sugar-coat the truth. Explain with the appropriate gravity that the two wealthy actors from Mr. and Mrs. Smithare not going to be married anymore.

Let your child know that it's not their fault.

Even if you suspect that it is your child's fault (because they were too young to see By The Seain theaters during its opening weekend, and you believe that if the film had stronger box office success, then the fault lines would have never formed in Brad and Angie's otherwise rock-solid relationship and there'd be no reason to end the marriage), do not say this to them. Instead, explain that this is a decision that two incredibly famous people are making themselves.

Tell your kids that it's okay to be sad.

Let your children know that whatever they feel is totally valid. It's okay to be sad because the lady from Maleficentand the guy from Tree of Life (Undoubtedly two of their favorite films, which they watch on repeat) are breaking up.

Explain what this all means.

Tell your child that they need to respect celebrity relationships, even though this divorce has no impact on their life, whatsoever, because they do not know Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie and, judging from your kid's performance in their elementary school production ofCharlotte's Web, they never will.

Remind them of other celebrity divorces.

Reminding them that Brad Pitt already divorced Jennifer Aniston will soften this blow.

Help your kids move on.

There will be more Angelina Jolie movies. There will be more Brad Pitt movies. Eventually, your child will grow up to be a teenager who receives TMZ updates on their iPhone 18, finally sparing you from having these conversations every month.