Handbook for Parents 1
Impact of separation and divorce

Inappropriate behavior

For the one not living with the children

• Due to the worry that the relationship with the children will become distant, overly spoil your children in an effort to make up for the lack of bonding time.


• Feel stressful and uneasy when the children react negatively during your contact with them and blame the other parent. Or because of conflicts between the two adults, eventually give up on visiting your children.


• Feel being unfairly treated, accusing the children for siding with the ex-partner and distant from oneself.


• Afraid that the children are being brainwashed by the ex-partner and hence do not accept oneself.


• Feel sorry for the children and hence rely on materials to show your love and care or excessively accommodate the requests of the children.


• Get information about the ex-partner through the children.


• Tell the other parent off in front of the children.

Whether you live with your children or not, how you cope with your own emotions, and how you interact with them during this separation/divorce can lead to different levels of stress and unsettling feelings. In order to maintain a stable relationship and facilitate steady growth of your children, you must manage these feelings and seek a bright way out.