The transition is tough on kids, and tough on parents. Check out these free resources to learn how to make it easier on your family ... and that will make it easier on you!
Up to Parents.org This is one of our favorite sites to help parents understand, and come to terms with, the challenges of co-parenting. It is free, confidential and interactive. The site's goal is to spare children from the harmful affects of parental conflict. Tools include a sample parenting agreement, as well as exercises to help you and your co-parent overcome the obstacles of parenting with an ex. Definitely worth checking out.
While We Heal.org Here you'll find information and tools to help parents, in the process of working through marital difficulties, meet their childrens needs. By the same people as UpToParents.org, it is free, confidential and interactive. Provides tools to help parents understand how to manage conflict in a manner best for their children.
Help Guide.org You'll find lots of good parenting aticles here. Help Guide is a non-profit site, dedicated to "helping you and your family understand, prevent and resolve medical and physical health challenges." Articles, written by experts, provide links to valuable resources. Articles to check include:
Kids & Infidelity You've just found out about the affair, now how do you handle your kids finding out? This short video provides some advice.
Kids Health.org Click on this site and you'll land on a page with 3 separate entries: one for kids, one for teens, and one for parents. Created by the Nemours Foundation, KidsHealth is a highly regarded website dedicated to the health and well-being of children. Relevant articles, written by experts, include:
mrdad.com The tagline "Great Dads aren't born...they learn over time" says it all. Encouraging, uplifting and honest, you'll get some good tips on the FAQ's for Single Dad's page.
Tell your kids first and if possible both parents should be present.
Explain it's not their fault and that Mom & Dad will always love them.
It's conflict, and putting children in the middle that hurts kids the most, be they 8 or 35,...not the divorce itself.
Do not bad mouth the other parent. Kids know they are half mom & half dad ... so it hurts them greatly.
When things get heated, repeat to yourself: I love my children more than I hate my spouse....
Newsletters
The Child Centered Divorce- This ezine has lots of helpful information for parenting your child through separation and divorce.
The ProChild Way- In this monthly newsletter Ellen Kellner, a mom writing from the trenches, shares insights and tools for coparenting. Her writing is engaging and helps you put things in perspective. Check out Ms. Kellner's book, by the same title, in oureBookstore.
Articles
There are many good, free articles you can read written by professional organization. Examples:
Video Game Earthquake in Zipland: Created by a therapist to provide a fun, interactive way to help kids cope with divorce Zipland is a treasure. Click the link below for a free download and check it out yourself!
