Parent’s Responsibilities

Parents should prepare children positively for the continued relationship with the other parent by themselves speaking respectfully of the other parent and encouraging the children to have and express their positive feelings for that parent. Making it clear to the children that your separation and divorce does not mean that the children have to take sides or stifle their love for the other parent—even if that parent has hurt you personally—will go a long way toward allowing the children the freedom to get on with the usual tasks of growing up, secure in their parents’ love. If children hear and see cooperation between their parents, at least as it concerns them, they will relax about this separation being their fault.