Telling children about divorce made easier

Divorce may be tough on parents, but it’s always much tougher on their children. One of the most difficult conversations any parent will ever have is telling their kids about an upcoming divorce. Divorce and Parenting Coach Rosalind Sedacca had that conversation with her eleven year old son more than a decade ago. Her unique approach became the basis for her customizable ebook, How Do I Tell the Kids about the Divorce? A Create-a-Storybook Guide to Preparing Your Children – with Love! which was newly updated for 2014. While many books address the topic of children and divorce, none provide fill-in-the-blank templates that don’t just tell parents what they should say – it says it for them! Parents are guided in preparing an attractive personal family storybook, in a photo-album format, that they present to their children when having the dreaded “divorce talk.” The book provides two templates – for ages 5 to 10 or 10 to 15 – that talk about the family’s past, present and future. It reminds children they will always be part of their family and that change, which can feel frightening, is a natural part of life. Using age-appropriate language, the text conveys the six key messages parents need to share – and children need to hear – when facing their parents’ divorce. Also included is commentary from six professional psychotherapists who provide advice for creating a peaceful divorce and cooperative co-parenting to minimize the emotional and psychological impact on children. Sedacca, and the divorce professionals around the world who support her work, believe the guidebook serves two important purposes: First, it serves as a script so parents don’t get off-track, forget essential messages or stumble in their communication during the emotionally-draining conversation about the upcoming divorce. Second, the customized storybook is filled with family photos attracting kids to a book all about “them.” Often they’ll read it again and again in the days, weeks and months that follow, reminding them of the six key messages parents want to convey. Among them: The divorce is not your fault. Mom and Dad will always be your Mom and Dad. We will always love you. Our divorce is about change, not about blame. Sedacca is frequently asked why parents should prepare a storybook, in advance, to help break the news about their divorce. “For the same reason they prepare for vacations, parties and other life events,” she explains. “Planning simplifies the process, keeps you on track and helps avoid awkward moments and regrettable mistakes during this challenging conversation. Aren’t your children worth that effort?” She adds, “My continued close relationship with my son has been the ultimate pay-off for any sacrifices I’ve made. One day my adult son said to me, ‘While the divorce was a tough time, you and Dad did a great job in minimizing the trauma and being there for me as I grew up. Thanks!’ That’s when I knew I had to write this book to remind parents that every parenting decision they make following the divorce will impact their children. They need to put aside their own emotional drama and experience the divorce from a child’s perspective so they’ll make wiser decisions on behalf of their children.” Sedacca subsequently founded the Child-Centered Divorce Network for parents where they can find expert advice, coaching services, articles, programs and other valuable resources on all facets of divorce and parenting issues. Because of its fill-in-the-blanks customization, How Do I Tell the Kids about the Divorce? is not a printed book. It’s a downloadable ebook available exclusively at http://www.howdoitellthekids.com. It comes with four bonuses including a complimentary 20-minute telephone coaching session with contributing family therapist Amy Sherman, MA, LMHC. Source: PRWEB