One of the biggest challenges facing parents who are divorcing is how to create and maintain a healthy and effective post-divorce relationship, especially when it comes to (co)parenting their children. We know from the research and clinical experience that the single most important predictor of a child’s adjustment post-divorce is the level of conflict between their parents. In fact, parental conflict itself—whether divorced or intact—is a major factor in a child’s healthy development—or … [Read more...]
5 “C’s” FOR CO-PARENTING AND COVID-19
For many parents, co-parenting when married is challenging and post-divorce it is darn near impossible. Different rules, different values, and different boundaries across two households can lead to significant conflict and difficulty in co-parenting. Add to this already bubbling cauldron of challenges a nationwide pandemic and shelter-in-place orders and the very real risk of boil-over readily rises to the surface, even for couples that previously had worked well together. Please read below … [Read more...]
When NOT to Tell Your Kids About Divorce
One of the most difficult challenges facing parents who are planning to divorce is what to tell their children. While indeed this is perhaps the most painful conversation that you will ever have, a frequently overlooked dynamic is the timing of this discussion. Empathize with Your Child As a parent, it is extremely important to see this experience from your child’s perspective. Once the actual decision is finally made, you are often driven by anxiety to tell your child as quickly as possible; … [Read more...]
Holiday Time-Sharing When You Are a “Different (Divorced) Kind of Family”
Holidays are a time for families. There is perhaps no more difficult time to be divorced than during the holiday season when everywhere that you look you see a reminder of what you have lost. In light of how hard it is for divorced adults to get through the holidays, it is just as hard for your children when their “new normal” or their “different kind of family” means they are sharing their holiday celebrations between homes and between parents. Divorced parents create a year round … [Read more...]
