Positive co-parenting is essential for the well-being of your children after a separation or divorce. It’s not always easy but it is important so here are some ideas to help. Here are some tips to help you co-parent effectively and create a positive environment for your children: Put Your Child’s Needs First: Remember that your […]
Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist, believed that birth order played a significant role in shaping an individual’s personality & behaviour. He suggested that a person’s birth order position in their family could influence their psychological development & subsequent relationships. This “positional psychology” can be disrupted when two families become one. When it comes to stepfamilies, […]
How the news hits a three-year-old is very different to how a 15-year-old understands and reacts to the news – that’s why it’s important to include your teenager in your discussions around your contact arrangements where it feels appropriate, to avoid resentment building up between all of you. Of course, don’t hand over all the […]
One of the hardest things you will have to do as a divorced parent is to encourage your children to go with your ex when they don’t want to go, particularly as they turn into teens and want to spend more time with their friends. But as a parent I think it’s really important that […]
I’m delighted to have been invited to write some articles for Dad Info – a wonderful website for Dads and Step Dads. Today here is my article on what the Americans call ‘Blended Families’ but what I like to call ‘Slow Burning Casserole Families’ 🙂 ‘Bringing together two separate families is a process, not an […]
It is a hugely emotional time when you split up with your partner, and that makes it even harder to make sensible financial decisions. Rather than thinking through options and making a long-term financial plan, people often feel desperate to end the misery of an unhappy relationship as soon as possible. Although this is […]
The law affecting families in England and Wales is changing. The most important element of no fault divorce is, of course, the removal of fault or blame from the divorce process. Under the new laws, couples will be able to get divorced solely on the basis that the marriage has broken down, without needing to cite […]
I’ve been catching up on ‘Coldfeet’ before the new season starts as I never watched it the first time it was on, and what strikes me watching and following the lives of these 3 couples is just how untidy life can be. Relationships are never easy at the best of times. Despite all our best […]
This month I have been working with a wonderful group of parents who are all going through a divorce and one of their main worries was how to tell the children about what was going to happen and what to actually say to them. Children naturally fear that they will lose one of their […]
My child seems to have little reaction to our divorce. One of the many questions I get asked when I am working with families going through a divorce is: “My child seems to have little reaction to our divorce. Does that mean they are OK? “ Divorce is usually a difficult time for all family […]
Most parents don’t know the options that are available to divorcing couples rather than the aggressive ‘Going to Court’ option. Most solicitors in fact don’t favour taking your case to Court as it is expensive and can be very damaging to everyone in the family, particularly your children. Mediation is a good option – […]
Whoever you are, no matter how famous or wealthy or whatever age you are, getting divorced is a major life change. It is stressful, challenging and painful. Here is an article I have written to help. Please share it on Twitter or Facebook or forward to a friend who might find it helpful. It’s also National […]
Finances – This is the first video concerning the finances of a divorce. What’s it going to cost and what do you need to think about as you go through the divorce process. I’ve recently launched a new series of free Divorce videos called -> Divorce Step by Step. Divorce Step By Step has […]
“My wife and I are getting divorced and I’m moving out. What’s the best way to talk to our children, aged 10 and eight, about what’s happening and the future?” This is an important time in everyone’s life as everything is about to change and your children need you to have clarity, direction and confidence […]
Communicating with children of any age is a key parenting skill, as it helps build your child’s self-esteem and confidence and learning to really listen to your child as you go through your divorce is crucial. Just as talking to your children is vital, no less important is the art of listening to them when […]
