You may notice that your child is resistant to seeing their other parent or you might feel that you are forcing your child to go and see their other parent despite your own reservations. Children may sometimes show signs of distress, get upset or seem very anxious about the prospect of visiting or staying with the other parent. Assuming there are no child protection or safety issues (and your child is not at risk) and even though part of you […]
How to respond to your Child when they ask delicate questions – especially about your separation or divorce?
What do you say when your child asks why you separated?! Understandably, when faced with this scenario, you want to be truthful and not lie, or be dishonest. A difficult one indeed! But having worked with children and young people who come to me for counselling, feeling very confused and somewhat overwhelmed by the different responses they hear, I have a suggestion. Children will want to know why you are no longer together and why wouldn’t they? They can invest of […]
How to create a ‘safe roof effect’ for your child even though you are separated or divorced?
How is it possible to work together as parents when it seems you disagree on everything? When you are both so wound up by the personal conflicts that this can be ‘played out’ in front of your child. Remember – children can be clever at figuring out how to get what they want and can be especially good at achieving this when they observe that you don’t speak or see each other. This in itself is not necessarily bad, however, […]
What is the emotional impact of separation and divorce on children?
What is the emotional impact of separation and divorce on children? The realisation that their parents are no longer together can feel very much like tectonic plates shifting and can feel devastating. But as with all dramatic change it is how we support ourselves and how we heal that is indicative of how we recover. The more we look after ourselves the better we recover. Children and young people are incredibly adaptable and resilient if given a chance and given […]
Practical suggestions that you may find helpful as parents
Having worked at Mediation Centre since 2008 I have observed a series of themes and issues that I have encountered. I will be frequently adding new articles with some practical suggestions that you may find helpful as parents. Some may be addressed to young people and children too – so they too can make sense of their situation.
