Separation / divorce
Parents separating
For various reasons a couple may decide, after being together for several years, to call it a day. This can be a pretty devastating time – for the children as much as the parents.
Things can get even stickier if the kids have to decide which parent they’re going to live with. They don’t want to appear to reject either their mum or dad.
In this situation it’s best if the parents don’t try and force their kids to take sides. If this does happen, it can help to explain to the parent that this puts you in a really awkward position.
If the parent persists it might even be better just to walk away from these kinds of discussions.
Step-parents
Once you’ve got over the separation it’s then possible you have to face up to the prospect of your parents remarrying. This can be confusing but it’s important to give the step-parent a fair chance.
It may feel strange at first, but having a step-parent is a pretty common occurrence: over 2 million young people in the UK have step-families.
No matter how many times our parents remarry or form new relationships they are still our parents.
Coping with a break-up
Although a break-up is distressing it might be for the best as two people tearing each other apart just makes everyone unhappy.
It will take time to come to terms with the loss but at some point you’ll be able to put it safely behind you. It can help to talk to friends who have been through a similar experience and see how they coped with things.
As with practically any major event in life there’s no perfect answer – but everyone eventually finds their own way to deal with their parents’ separation.
