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Separation can be a difficult time for families for many reasons. It takes time to adjust and adapt. Decisions about the future can be challenging when our emotions are fragile. Coping as an adult may feel like swimming in treacle at this time and then there are your children's emotions to consider.
Children need a life jacket to keep their heads above water and enable them to see that the safe shore landing is near and they will arrive there with some support.
There are many ways of helping children through this transitional period and we would like to share some with you that may help with communication between parents and your children.
Children need to know what is happening and how this will affect them. They do not need adult information, but need to understand that changes may be happening and both parents are working together to make sure everyone is happy. It’s important to tell your child that even though you, as parents, are choosing not to live together, you both still love them and that love will never change.
Be careful with the information you provide your children. Ask yourself the question, What will my telling them this information achieve? Will the information I'm telling them help them? Does it make them hate the other parent? Does it make them more likely to side with you? Children in most cases feel they have to choose between their parents and this type of pressure is really unhealthy to them. They will feel a need to protect either parent and will often say what they think the particular parent needs to hear.
Children look to you as their role models so often, how you handle challenges in life, is how they will respond when things are difficult for them. Hearing negative comments or placing blame on the other parent is very difficult for a child no matter what their age. This is because they are made up from both of you. Often in a child's mind they think, 'if you don’t like that part of that parent, then you don’t like/love that part of me'. This can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and knock their confidence in the present time and future.
Not arguing or fighting in front of the children is challenging however, what your child/ren see and hear now stays with them for the rest of their lives.
You are only human and you have emotions. There is nothing wrong with talking about those emotions as children have them too. It may be helpful to talk to your child/ren about how you are feeling, but what is really important, is that you both try, as much as possible, to be the best parents you can be for your children.
Programmes, counselling & support for separated or separating parents are offered by
'Relate'. Relate is a registered charity & has staff that support helping you move forward. They offer a programme called 'Parents Apart' that offers support to separating and separated parents.
Contact: office@relate-bournemouth.org.uk or call 01202 311231 to book a course or for further info www.relate-bournemouth.org.uk.
Further guidance and support is available from cafcass. Please follow link to 'Separated Parents' Information Programme pdf.