The loss of either parent affects a child in her heart and feelings. Research has found that children longed for the emotional involvement of a missing parent for years afterward, even after the actual divorce was an accepted fact of life. With statistics showing that most of the children of divorce are under the age of seven at the time of physical separation or divorce, it is important that we recognize the need to develop shared parenting families within which we can nourish our children . Hurt, angry parents can learn to co-operate when they are supported todo so from the beginning and believe that it is possible. The ingredients required for children's healthy emotional development are the same whether parents are living together or not.
Children experience themselves to be part of their mom and part of their dad.
That is why it's important for adults not to make the other parent bad in order to create an emotional ally of the child or they will end up making their children feel bad about themselves. Children can accept that adults have complicated problems, and that adults can have hurt and angry feelings toward each other, when they are not forced to take sides. When adults decide to break apart their relationships it is important that love, empathy, and support, for the continued care of childrens' emotional needs remain the primary focus. With the reality of todays divorce statistics, we need to revolutionize our belief systems about what makes up a healthy family and what makes for good child rearing practices so we can raise emotionally healthy children. Emotionally healthy children are self-confident, have self esteem, and have the ability to live their own lives, follow their own interests, and trust their own inner voices.