Introduction
What this piece is
Five things Billy wishes he’d properly understood before sitting down to tell his own children — written plainly, without a script, and with respect for how differently every family carries this conversation.
There’s no version of this conversation that doesn’t hurt. But there’s a real difference between doing it thoughtfully and doing it in a moment of panic, and that difference matters more to your children than almost anything else about how this whole process unfolds. This isn’t a script — it’s five things worth understanding before you sit down.
What’s inside
The pieces this guide covers
- 01Tell them together, if you possibly can
- 02Keep it simple and age-appropriate
- 03Answer the question they’re actually asking
- 04Don’t make them choose a side
- 05Expect the reaction to come later, not immediately
“This one is the guide I most wish I could hand my earlier self before he had the conversation. If it makes yours a little gentler, it did its job.”— Billy
If this landed
The full story is in these books
This guide is a short opening. The books below carry the full thing — slowly, honestly, and in Billy’s own voice.
Continue your journey
Next in the Starter Library
No. 05
Starting Again Financial Checklist
A Short, Practical Guide
Untangling money after a break-up carries its own particular weight, separate from everything else. Five practical, unglamorous things worth understanding early, from someone who’s actually been through it — not financial advice, just an honest starting point.
About the author
William “Billy” Brown
