Separation and Divorce
Children of Divorce
Changes...
Divorce is hard on everyone. When your mom and dad get divorced you'll see a lot of things change. Some things may change, such as:
- your friends
- you may go to a new school
- live in a new house or apartment
- your feelings may change
- you are only living with one parent instead of two
Talk, Talk, Talk
The most important thing to do when you are trying to get through any tough situation is to talk about it.
But Who Do I Talk To?
- a trusted friend
- other kids who have been through the same thing
- a counselor
- a clergy person
- your parents
- your family doctor
- support groups
- anyone you find helpful
Do You Have "ATTITUDE?"
Many people wait for happiness to come along so they can feel better. The secret is to find happiness yourself. Having a positive ATTITUDE is the key if you ever want to feel good. Think positive and see what happens. Dare to dream and go for it!
What To Expect
Good Grief!
Grief is neither good or bad. When things change, whether it is for the good or the bad, you will go through a grief process every time.
Grief has five stages.
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Sadness
- Acceptance
This is usually the order in which you will grieve, but you may find that you will jump from one stage to another and back again. Grief isn't always a smooth process, so be patient with yourself while you are going through it.
Changes
Divorce is hard on everyone. When your mom and dad get divorced you'll see a lot of things change. Some things may change, such as:
- your friends
- you may go to a new school
- live in a new house or apartment
- your feelings may change
- you are only living with one parent instead of two
When you are going through change you may feel confused. That's okay and it's normal. Hang in there 'cause things will get better.
Laughter takes you from moping- to hoping- to coping.
Wanna Feel Better?
One of the best things to do for yourself when you are going through a rough time, is to do something to make yourself feel better. You can do this by having fun. This is very important.
Try some of these activities to make you feel better:
- ride your bike
- go to a friend's house
- take your dog for a walk
- play with your cat
- make a puzzle or a model airplane
- play in the rain
- go to your "special" place
