How Divorce Affects Teenagers
When parents divorce and children are subjected to negative changes as a result, the experience can be very painful for their children. Learn how divorce affects teenagers, how to recognize that your teenager may be having trouble coping with divorce in your family, and get some helpful steps you can take to ensure that they to grow up to be happy, healthy adults By Donald A. Gordon Ph.D. and Jack Arbuthnot Ph.D. Most parents ask themselves some hard questions when they split up. Parents wonder what the break-up will do to their children. Will the children understand what’s going on? ...
How Divorce Affects Preteens
With greater emotional maturity under their belt, how divorce affects preteens who are in the 9-12-year-old range differs from how is affects younger children. Here’s how to help your pre-teenage son or daughter cope with issues related to divorce and children. By Donald A. Gordon Ph.D. and Jack Arbuthnot Ph.D. Preteens – children aged 9-12 – have a different and more mature response to a divorce than younger children. This age group is more advanced in their thinking, and they are able to see many points of view in the matter. Most of these preteens can understand some of the rea...
How Divorce Affects Preschoolers
Every member of your family will react differently to your divorce, and how divorce affects preschoolers is important to know. Children in their preschool years have certain emotional needs and sensitivities that are useful to understand so you can help your young children cope in the aftermath of separation and divorce. By Donald A. Gordon Ph.D. and Jack Arbuthnot Ph.D. Divorce inevitably impacts children, but it impacts them in different ways depending on the age and stage of the children’s emotional development. Preschoolers – children ranging in age from infants to age 6 -- most ...
What to Do When You and Your Ex Have Different Parenting Styles
Co-parenting your children after divorce often shows how different your parenting style is from your ex. Here’s how to manage the potential conflicts and confusion different parenting styles can cause. By Carolyn Ellis Different homes may mean different parenting styles. Different rules about bedtimes, homework and household chores between mom’s house and dad’s house can make clashes and conflicts inevitable when co-parenting with your ex. When you were married or living together, parents typically assume a “united front” in parenting to provide consistency and clarity for t...
Why Having a Vision for Your Life After Divorce is So Important
You will be co-parenting with your ex for as long as you have children. Having a vision for life after divorce is a powerful tool to help you live your life on your own terms. Here’s why! By Carolyn Ellis You will be co-parents with your ex for as long as you have children. Don’t let yourself be constrained by the current state of your relationship or worries about how you’re going to achieve your vision for your life after divorce. Vision is a powerful tool for everyone, from single moms and divorced dads to CEOs and everyone in between. Businesses, governments, and other large...
3 Tips for How to Tell Your Children You’re Getting Divorced
Getting divorced isn’t easy especially when you have kids. These three tips can help you deliver the tough news about your divorce in the best possible way to your children. By Carolyn Ellis "Mom and dad are getting divorced" is the conversation every parent dreads telling their children. There’s no easy way to share the news with your kids that life as they have known it up until now will suddenly become very different. When you are absolutely certain that your marriage is not going to work, it’s time to let your children know you're getting divorced so you can frame the decisi...
Parenting Mistake: Turning Children into Messengers and Spies
Sometimes parents use their children to deliver messages about changes in visitation or to get information about what’s happening with an ex-spouse. This unfortunate parenting practice sets your children up to be in the cross-fire between their parents. By Carolyn Ellis Too often, children get caught in the crossfire of the divorce game their parents play. It’s a big parenting mistake to put your child in the role of messenger for communications that should take place between you and your ex. “Initially, I did ask my nine-year-old son to convey information to his father for me,...
The Truth Parents Need to Know About Divorce and Children
Divorcing parents always pledge to keep the welfare of their children in mind, but this lawyer/mediator/coach continually sees parents break that promise in the divorce process. Here’s the real truth about divorce and children and how a parent’s behavior and choices can impact their children. By M. Marcy Jones As a lawyer, mediator and coach, I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is for the well-being of your children that you and your spouse find ways to deal with your conflict without becoming enmeshed in a legal battle during the divorce process. The truth about divo...
Post-Divorce Dating Safety Rules
Dating after divorce can feel like a big maze, with all kinds of ways to meet the next Mr. or Ms. Right. However, it’s important to keep dating safety rules in mind as you get out there and meet new people. By Sabrina Touchino Dating after divorce in the internet age can be an exciting way to meet someone new, but it’s important to be safe. Caution is the keyword here. It doesn't matter how or where you've met someone -- whether it was through the personals, online, at a bar, or even though friends -- don't ignore dating safety by rushing into too much intimacy too fast. Don't be too...
Where To Find Your New Love After Divorce
There's no "surefire" way to meet Mr. or Ms. Right, but opening yourself up to different scenes and a variety of people will certainly increase your chances of success. Here are some tips on broadening your soulmate search and finding love after divorce. By Jeffrey Cottrill Dating can seem like a frightening prospect after you've been divorced. Chances are that you have the disadvantage of not having been in the dating scene for many years -- and the rules and customs are constantly changing. Our fast-paced, busy work world today leaves us with little time to search seriously when dating...