Children must be allowed to grieve the loss they will feel. Parents can help them through this process by giving them the emotional support they will need to live with divorce. The way parents react to the divorce will directly affect their children s ability to cope. Parents who are constantly angry lose their ability to be positive role models for their kids. The first priority must be the children s emotional well-being.
Parents can help their kids adjust by keeping their children out of the conflict.
Parents must recognize that divorce is an adult issue. From the first conversations they have with their kids about the divorce, they should stress that the kids are not responsible for the marriage breaking up. They should explain that while love between adults may change, love between parents and children never ends. Kids should be prepared for upcoming changes, but adult decisions should not be imposed on them. Parents also should not confide in their children about their problems.