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Published Online: 23 August 2019

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Publication: Divorce and Co-parenting: A Support Guide for the Modern Family

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AACAP.
See American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Abandonment,
42
Academy of Professional Family Mediators,
234
Adolescents
communicating with about divorce,
24
difficulty with remarriage,
203–204
impact of divorce on,
73–74
Adoption,
207–208
Adversarial legal system,
35
Aggression in children,
191
Alcohol abuse,
80, 130
safety of children and,
120
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP),
194, 235
American Bar Association,
236
American Psychiatric Association (APA),
194, 235
American Psychological Association,
194, 236
Anger
of children,
142–143, 223–224
impact of divorce and,
59–60
parents dealing with,
118–119
Anorexia nervosa,
65
Arbitration,
40
Attachment, importance of to children,
9–11
Attorney
for each parent,
34
initial consultation with,
31
Babysitters,
76
Bed-wetting,
62
Behavior
adult regressive or unusual,
79–80
cause-and-effect action of,
144
ignoring bad behavior,
167
impact of divorce on children’s behavior,
55–76
of parents,
18
rewarding good behavior,
165–166
ritualistic,
191
Binding arbitration,
40
Bipolar disorder,
228
Boarding school,
224–225
Bulimia nervosa,
65
Bullying,
191, 228–229
Camp,
224–225
Catfishing,
98
Catholic Divorce Ministry,
234
Child protective agencies,
89
Children
alone versus lonely,
61
chores and responsibilities of,
85–88
communicating with about divorce,
15–27
age-appropriate explanations,
23–24
ages
5–8, 23
ages
9–12, 24
teenagers and college students,
24
younger than age 5,
23
responding to common questions,
17–22
confidentiality and,
180
contact with parent,
103
dealing with their own mistakes,
167–168
development of,
55
with divorced parents,
11–12
emotional well-being of,
139
engagement of,
176–177
fear for themselves,
20
fear of not seeing a parent again,
19–20
friends of,
181–182, 190
helping to shine,
147–149
hope for reconciliation of parents,
222–223
identification with both parents,
18
impact of divorce on,
55–76
ages
5–8, 70–71
ages
9–12, 71–73
dealing with feelings,
75–76
improvement of reactions,
74
preschool years,
68–70
reactions common to most children,
56–66
anger,
59–60
eating problems,
65
fear,
57
guilt,
60–61
loneliness,
61
masturbation,
64
physical problems,
64–65
regression,
62
rejection,
62
sadness,
57–58
school problems,
64
sleep problems,
62–64
wish for reconciliation,
65–66
teenagers,
73–74
importance of attachment,
9–11
knowledge about divorce,
9
lack of communication with,
135
LGBTQ,
134–135
living with one parent,
19
loyalty to parents,
106
misbehavior of,
161–162
need for both parents,
11–12
need for discipline,
158
need for privacy,
76
neglect of,
161
“new normal” for,
30
parenting techniques to build self-esteem of,
137–155
professional help for,
187–200
questions about divorce,
229
risk of developmental and psychological problems,
7
self-image of,
12
sexual abuse of,
36
sexuality of,
11–12, 192
stress with remarriage,
203
support groups for,
25
thoughts about parenting time,
120–122
Children’s Rights Council,
234
Child support,
48–50. See Income
income withholding order,
49
legislation for,
48
refusal to pay,
227
Chores and responsibilities,
85–88
Collaborative law,
40–41
Communication
body language,
167
with children,
135
with children about divorce,
26–27
with ex-spouse’s relatives,
177
keeping lines open,
26–27
mediation and,
37
of remarriage to children,
210
Community events,
117, 123
Community organizations,
100
Confidentiality
children’s,
180
with therapist,
196
Cooperation, to build child’s self-esteem,
145–147
Court-appointed examiners,
46–47
Custody,
11–12
best interests of the child,
43
custodial arrangements,
42
joint custody,
43–44
relocation of parent,
230–231
role of judge,
43
role of mental health professionals in disputes of,
46–47
sole legal and physical custody,
42–43
sole versus joint custody,
44–46
stepfamily and,
217
types of
joint custody,
43–44
sole legal and physical custody,
42–43
sole versus joint custody,
44–46
Dating after divorce,
94–99
Death of parent,
132–133
Denial,
81–83
Discipline,
157–174
abandoning,
157
of children,
111–112
children misbehaving,
161–162
consequences of,
171
description of,
158–160
effectiveness of,
160
family values and,
162–164
parental avoidance of,
159
planning,
162
positive versus negative reinforcement,
165
reasoned approach to discipline,
160–161
with stepfamily,
208, 211–212
techniques,
164–170
avoiding problematic situations,
166
body language,
167
collaboration with ex-spouse,
173
communication of family values,
164–165
connecting behavior to outcome,
168–169
correcting children,
170–172
criticism,
174
flexibility when problem solving,
166
ignoring bad behavior,
167
letting children deal with their own mistakes,
167–168
letting problem resolve on its own,
168
punishment,
169–170, 173
rewarding good behavior,
165–166
setting a good example,
164, 173
warning before,
171
Dispute resolution, methods of,
33–34
Divorce.
See Legal process; Marriage; Separation
attitudes toward,
184
Catholic church and,
3–4
children’s hope of reconciliation,
222–223
children’s questions about,
229
communicating with children about,
15–27
age-appropriate explanations,
23–24
ages
5–8, 23
ages
9–12, 24
teenagers and college students,
24
younger than age 5,
23
ending the discussion,
24–25
keeping the lines of communication open,
26–27
with or without the spouse,
22
rationalizations about,
15–16
responding to common questions,
17–22
costs of,
32
decision to,
7–13, 60
disputes after divorce is final,
50–53
high-conflict,
90
history of regulations of,
3–4
impact on children,
55–76
impact on parenting,
77–101
managing expectations about outcome of,
32–33
no-fault,
2, 54
professional help for children,
187–200
rates of,
2, 3
settlement through compromise,
35
transition from marriage,
33, 95
Doctor’s visits, attendance of by noncustodial parent,
116
Drawing,
58, 61, 122, 144–145, 195
Driving privileges,
104–105
DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for narcissism,
36
Eating problems, impact of divorce and,
65
Emergencies,
153
Exchange times,
106–107
Facebook,
2, 16, 97, 111
FaceTime,
116
Family.
See Stepfamily
new family history,
211
traditions of,
33
values and discipline,
162–164
Family law,
31. See Legal process
Fear, impact of divorce and,
57
Feelings
helping children deal with,
75–76
sharing,
58
Financial penalties, as punishment for misbehavior,
169
Grandparents
role in children’s lives,
181
support from,
178, 180–181
Grounding, as punishment for misbehavior,
169
Guilt
impact of divorce and,
60–61
support and,
178
Hair pulling,
190
“Helicopter parent,”
187–188
Holidays,
109, 112–113
Home environment,
172, 226
Homework,
63, 106, 122, 145, 161, 163
House rules,
120, 172
Illness of parent,
125–126, 128–130, 228
Impartial examiner,
198
Incarceration of parent,
132
Income.
See Child support; Money
of single mothers,
3
withholding order,
49
Instagram,
2
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals,
236
Isolation, of divorced parents,
90–91
Legal process,
29–54
arbitration,
40
child support,
48–50
collaborative law,
40–41
costs of,
32
court-appointed examiners,
46–47
custody
custodial arrangements,
42
parenting time with children,
47–48
role of mental health professionals in disputes of,
46–47
types of,
42–46
disputes after divorce is final,
50–53
behavioral motives,
51–52
compromise,
51, 52
income withholding order,
49
litigation and the adversarial system,
34–36
managing expectations about divorce outcome,
32–33
mediation,
36–40
meeting with family law attorney,
31–32
methods of dispute resolution,
33–34
parenting coordinators,
41
LGBTQ parents and children,
134–135, 227–228
Listening, as technique to build child’s self-esteem,
140–145
Litigation.
See Legal process
adversarial system and,
34–36
description of,
34–35
Living arrangements,
79
Living skills,
153
Loneliness
versus being alone,
61
dealing with,
75
impact of divorce and,
61
Lying,
171
parental,
220–221
versus truth,
198–199
Magical thinking,
69
Marriage,
2, 3, 21. See Divorce; Separation; Stepfamily
dissolution of,
12, 33
remarriage,
92, 201–206
transition to divorce,
33
Masturbation
impact of divorce and,
64
parental discussion with children about,
72
Matrimonial law,
31. See Legal process
Mediation,
36–40
communication and,
37
successful versus unsuccessful,
39–40
Mediator,
36
Men
cultural choices of,
2
father-absent homes,
3
as stepfathers,
206–209
Mental health professionals
forensic role of,
46
role in disputes of custody,
46–47
selection of,
193–196
Mental illness
cost of therapy,
195
lack of insurance for treatment of,
195
of parent,
128–130
professional help for children,
187–200
boys versus girls,
191, 192–193
evaluating the child,
196–197
indications for immediate help,
191–192
parental role in seeking,
198–199
selection of therapist,
193–196
sexual and physical abuse and,
197–198
threshold for intervention,
189–190
questions for therapist,
197
referrals,
194
types of therapy,
195
Money,
153–154. See Income
NAMI.
See National Alliance on Mental Illness
Narcissism, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for,
36
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),
236
National Association of Social Workers,
19
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,
235
Negotiation, of punishment for misbehavior,
169
Nonbinding arbitration,
40
Order of protection,
89
Parental alienation syndrome,
118
Parenting coordinators,
41
Parenting time,
47–48, 103–124
between parenting time sessions,
115–117
doctors’ visits,
116
letters and cards,
116
phone calls,
115–116
photographs,
116–117
religious and community events,
117
school events,
116, 117
Skype and FaceTime,
116
video/audio recordings,
116
children’s refusal of,
224
children’s thoughts about,
120–122
negative,
120–121
positive,
121–122
dealing with angry, alienated children,
118–119
discipline,
111–112
making it natural,
114–115
making it work,
105–111
checklists,
108
exchange times,
106–107
including significant others,
111
location,
109–110
overview,
105–106
reliability,
110
schedules,
108–109
missed parenting time,
219–220
normal reactions to parenting time,
113–114
special days and holidays,
112–113
state guidelines for,
105
Parents
absence from children’s daily lives,
58
adult regression,
79–81
denial and sublimation,
81–83
parent as child/child as parent,
80–81
regressive or unusual behavior,
79–80
allegations of sexual abuse,
90
as child and child as parent,
80–81
children’s reliance on,
149
common problems of divorced parents,
78–83
conditional separation of,
21–22
conflict between,
27, 30
continuation of parenting after divorce,
172
creating a scene,
221
dangerous behavior of,
18
death of,
132–133
decision to divorce,
60
departure of,
17
dependence on children,
82
with different value systems,
133–134
“helicopter parent,”
187–188
impact of divorce on,
66–68, 77–101
creating a social life,
93–94
dating,
94–99
involvement in activities,
100–101
moving on,
91–101
incarcerated,
132
isolation versus hyperactivity,
90–91
LGBTQ,
134–135
mentally ill,
128–130
new living arrangement of,
19
noncustodial,
48, 118–119
overinvolved,
128
parenting techniques to build child’s self-esteem,
137–155
physically and/or emotionally absent,
130–131
physical violence of,
8
reason for leaving,
17–18
relocation of,
230–231
remarriage and,
210–211
safety issues,
120
turning against each other,
225
uninvolved/absent,
126–127
violence and,
84–90
Parents Without Partners,
94, 100, 233–234
Parent-teacher association,
117
Peers, support from,
182
Petitioner,
35
Pets, as technique to build child’s self-esteem,
154–155
Phobias,
190
Physical abuse, professional help for,
197–198
Physical problems, impact of divorce and,
64–65
Playtime,
149, 190
Praise
for good behavior,
165
as technique to build child’s self-esteem,
149–150
Privileges, restriction of as punishment for misbehavior,
169–170
Problem solving
flexibility of,
166
as technique to build child’s self-esteem,
151–153
Punishment,
169–170
choice of,
170
corporal,
170
Reconciliation, children’s wish for,
65–66
Regression
impact of divorce on adults,
79–81
impact of divorce on children,
62
Rehabilitative maintenance,
101
Rejection, impact of divorce and,
62
Religion
belonging to a church or synagogue,
94, 101
Catholic church and divorce,
3–4
family values and,
162
religious ceremonies, attendance of by noncustodial parent,
117
Remarriage,
92, 201–206
children’s loss of parental attention,
204–205
stress of children and,
203
success of,
209, 212
time with children,
225
Respondent,
35
Responsibilities
assignment of,
146, 148
of children,
85–88
choices and,
147
criticism of,
146
parental abdication of,
158
parental delegation of,
174
of stepfamily,
216
Rewards
for good behavior,
166
system of,
165–166
Rituals
bedtime,
62–63
evening,
123
Role models,
71–72
Sadness, impact of divorce and,
57–58
Safety,
120
safe haven for children,
175–176
skills for,
153
Schedules,
108–109
with other children,
122
for parenting time days,
122
School
after-school programs,
226
boarding school,
224–225
events, attendance of by noncustodial parent,
116
parent-teacher association,
117
problems, impact of divorce and,
64
Security object,
62
Self-esteem,
137–138
bolstering,
183
parenting techniques to build child’s,
137–155
active listening,
140–145
encouraging cooperation,
145–147
giving praise,
149–150
having a pet,
154–155
helping child to shine,
147–149
parental expectations,
146
problem solving,
151–153
teaching survival skills,
153–154
teachers and,
182–184
Self-help groups,
89
Self-identification,
153
Self-image,
140
Separation.
See Divorce; Marriage
conditional,
21–22
Separation anxiety,
10
Sex
children’s questions about parental sex,
223
sexually active child,
192
Sexual abuse,
36
allegations of,
90, 229–230
parental avoidance of charges of,
199–200
professional help for,
197–198
Sexuality,
73, 190
adult,
96
of girls with absent fathers,
11–12
Sexually transmitted diseases,
72
Siblings
rivalry,
83
in stepfamilies,
214
Skype,
116
Sleep problems,
62–64, 190
Snapchat,
2
Social media,
2, 74, 97, 181, 206
Spanking,
170
Stepfamily,
201–218. See Family
adjustment to,
201–202
cohesive,
209–215
custodial parents and,
217
development of trust with,
211
discipline and,
208, 211–212
fair treatment of children,
218
guidelines for,
215–218
loyalty conflict with,
217
overlapping roles in,
212
responsibilities of,
216
siblings in,
214
stepmothers and stepfathers,
206–209
traditions and rituals of,
217
Stress
of children with remarriage,
203
of parents,
172
Sublimation,
81–83
Substance abuse,
80
Suicide,
79, 191
of parent,
132–133
Support
during and after divorce,
185–186
children’s need for others,
184–186
considerations and,
177–178
from friends,
181–182
guidelines for,
179–180
groups for children,
25, 182
overview,
175–177
from relatives,
178–181
grandparents,
178, 180–181
guidelines for,
179–180
from teachers,
182–184
Survival skills,
121
teaching as technique to build child’s self-esteem,
153–154
Teachers, support from,
182–184
Temper tantrums,
62
Thumb-sucking,
62, 190
Time-out,
169
Trauma, child development and,
55
Travel, of children for parenting time
109–110
Twitter,
2
Value systems,
133–134, 226
Video/audio recordings,
116
Video games,
76
Violence
adult,
84–90
of children,
192
order of protection and,
89
parental,
8
physical,
84, 88–90
Visitation.
See Custody
Welfare, mothers on,
48
Women
cultural choices of,
2
income of single mothers,
3
mothers on welfare,
48
rates of female-headed families,
3
resources for battered women,
235
as stepmothers,
206–209

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Go to Divorce and Co-parenting
Divorce and Co-parenting: A Support Guide for the Modern Family
Pages: 241 - 248

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Published in print: 23 August 2019
Published online: 5 December 2024
© American Psychiatric Association Publishing

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