Things you could say
You don’t have to figure out the right words on your own. Here are some you could use, or change to sound more like you.
A parent asks what the other one said about them
“I’d rather not repeat that. Can we talk about something else?”
A parent wants you to pick a side
“I love you both and I don’t want to be in the middle of this.”
You feel guilty for having fun with the other parent
“I’m allowed to have a good time with both of you.”
A grown-up says something that scares you
“I don’t feel safe with that.” Then tell another adult you trust.
You don’t owe anyone a perfect explanation. It’s okay to say less than you think you’re supposed to.
If you need to talk to someone right now
Nummer gegen Kummer, for children and young people: 116 111. It’s free, and they won’t tell your parents you called unless you want them to.
We can’t promise that everything you tell an adult stays secret — sometimes an adult needs to tell someone else to keep you safe. That’s true here too.
Worried someone might see you’ve been here? Cover your tracks.