Whether you’re still in a relationship but fear it may soon end; or you’ve just separated from your partner and are apprehensive about what the future holds; or you’ve been separated from your ex-partner for a while but are unable to co-parent for various reasons – whatever your situation, becoming a separated parent can be challenging in so many ways.
That’s why Claire Colbert and Rachael Oakes, the founders of Family Mediation and Mentoring, have joined thousands of family professionals in promoting the Parenting Through Separation Guide during Good Divorce Week, an annual initiative by the family justice organisation Resolution, to raise awareness of how families can separate amicably.
Claire and Rachael said: “We know that the pandemic has put significant pressure on families and even more so on those who are separating. Every parent wants to put their children’s interests front and centre, but, all too often, they don’t know where to turn for help and aren’t given the support they need to do this.
“It’s important for parents to have access to good, authoritative and professional advice that helps them to parent responsibly through their separation. We hope all local separating parents will use the Parenting Through Separation Guide to help them find a better way forward for them and for their children.”
The free guide is available to any parent seeking help during their separation. It contains advice about how to co-parent with a former partner, background on the common disputes between separating parents, talking to children about the painful topic of divorce or separation, and much more.
Juliet Harvey, national chair of Resolution, said: “I’m really pleased to have Claire and Rachael’s support during Good Divorce Week. Resolution members like them do really important work in their community to help families separate in a constructive and amicable way.
“The more families who know about and use the free Parenting Through Separation Guide, the better equipped they will be to navigate the challenges divorce and separation brings, particularly when it comes to putting children first.”
Here’s an extract of the advice contained within the guide:
Top tips for discussing divorce with your children
- If your situation allows, try to have a joint conversation when all your children are present. Keep this age-appropriate.
- Plan a series of conversations, including different follow up conversations, if your children are of different ages. Be mindful that their reactions will depend on their age, developmental stage, and individual personality.
- Reassure your children that it is okay to feel sad or scared and that showing emotion is good. They can always talk to either of you and ask questions.
- Remember, you are a role model, and your children are watching how you manage this situation. They will cope better if they see that you are still their parents, making decisions together about them.
Resolution is a membership association of 6,500 family justice professionals promoting a non-confrontational approach to resolving family issues and campaigning for a fairer family justice system.
Resolution members commit to a Code of Practice that promotes a constructive approach to family issues and considers the needs of the whole family, in particular the best interests of children.
You’ll can download the free Parenting Through Separation Guide from the Resolution website.
