Child-Healthy Divorce

A framework for child-centred divorce from acclaimed psychoanalyst and award-winning author, Erica Komisar.A good divorce is better than a bad marriage, but for children that doesn t make the split any easier. Legal decisions have emotional consequences. Well-meaning parents can become hostile, insecure, or jealous, and well-adjusted kids can grieve the loss of the family unit, rage at the pain that they feel, or prey on parental guilt.In The Child-Healthy Divorce, acclaimed psychoanalyst and award-winning author Erica Komisar marshals more than 30 years of clinical experience and extensive research to show readers how to make an effective plan that centres children s needs, including how to talk about what s happening, how to maintain normal routines, and what to know about kids of different ages. For example, interrupting a child s attachment with the primary caregiver before age three can lead to behavioural problems later in life. Teens going to college also need a stable home as a foundation to establish their own independence.With numerous case studies and practical strategies, the book shows parents how to create age-appropriate custody arrangements, reassure kids without invalidating their feelings, and build a positive support system. It also provides helpful guidance about new partners, blended families, and other special situations. Most importantly, it offers hope.No one with kids wants a divorce, but if that step becomes necessary, this book can help readers establish the emotional security that their children need for success in life.