Shannon Philpott-Sanders

How to Talk to an Older Child About Divorce

Published March 2013: Mom.Me

How to Talk to an Older Child About Divorce
‘Validate feelings’ and other tips for post break-up communication

Article Excerpt:

When your family is coping with divorce, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. Teens and older children often deal with a variety of thoughts and feelings that range from anger and betrayal to disappointment and sadness.

“Teens and older children need to hear the truth about their parents’ feelings in their divorce, and it’s tricky, as parents need to disclose these feelings without being overly insulting to the other parent,” says Dr. John Duffy, Chicago-based psychotherapist and author of “The Available Parent.”

Learning to acknowledge and validate your older child’s feelings will pave the way for a stronger relationship between you and your child.

Read the Rest of the Story Here

– Shannon Philpott

March 27, 2013 - Posted by sphilpott | Feature Stories, Magazine Writing, Sample Work | divorced children, parenting, talking to kids about divorce