CHILDREN GRAPPLE WITH GRIEF IN DIVORCE TOO
Lisa Poppe, an educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has written an excellent article about grief in divorce from the children's perspective.
When their parents are divorcing, children experience the same stages of grief:
1. Shock and Denial - Parents can reinforce the reality of the divorce, emphasizing that the love for their children will never change.
2. Anger - Parents can let their children know that they understand the anger and continue to love them.
3. Depression - Parents need to differentiate between their children's sadness and depression and seek professional help for the latter.
4. Dialogue and Bargaining - Parents may need to reassure their children that they are not responsible for mom and dad's divorce and remind them that it is not likely that the family will get back together.
5. Acceptance - Parents should maintain their children's schedules and activities as they learn to accept their new circumstances.
Read the article here.
Kim Werner
Program Manager
Divorce Mediation Grou
kwerner@ncrconline.com
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