Book Recommendation: Talking to Children about Divorce - by Jean McBride, MS, LMFT
How to talk to children about separation and divorce is one of the most concerning aspects of this life transition for parents.
In Talking to Children About Divorce, Jean McBride, a marriage and family therapist for over 25 years and a child of divorce herself, has provided a specific and reassuring guidebook to help parents have age-appropriate conversations at each stage of divorce.
Her book is organized into the following big topics:
Developing Healthy Communication Habits
Getting Kids to Open Up
Preparing for the Talk
Having the Talk
Children’s Reactions and Worries
Answering Your Child’s Tough Questions
Responding to Sticky Situations
Looking Forward
She helpfully provides principles to guide decision-making around communication, concrete suggestions, sample wording, and explores research regarding divorce and how to apply it to help your family move forward.
This book answers parents’ most commonly asked questions, including:
when and how and where should we tell our children that we are getting divorced?
what should we avoid telling our children?
how should I talk about my child’s other parent? what is there are addictions, mental health issues or other difficulties at play?
how do I keep my child out of our conflict and how important is that?
what are my child’s biggest concerns likely to be about the divorce?
what if my child resists going to the other parent’s home or to my home?
how should I talk about a new partner?
This is a clear, well-organized book written to help parents contribute positively to their children’s emotional well-being and adjustment during the divorce transition.
Marriage and family therapist Jean McBride has helped over 20,000 families navigate divorce.
