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WARNING SIGNS |
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Okay, so
it's obvious that 99.9% of children will somehow be affected by their
parents' divorce. Could anyone -- parent or child -- be expected to
exhibit "normal" behavior when going through something as traumatic as the
breakup of their family?
Today, enough children have gone through
their parents' divorce to allow psychiatrists, therapists, family
counselors, and other related experts to determine what might be
considered "normal" under the circumstances. It should only take about a
year for children to come to terms with a divorce, and while they may
still have feelings of sadness or anger, they should be coping well with
those feelings. Ideally, by the end of the first year after the divorce,
your children should have:
dealt with their feelings of loss due to the divorce
dealt with any feelings that they were rejected or deserted by one of
their parents
accepted that the family will no longer be living together
accepted that you will not be reuniting with their other parent
removed themselves from adult conflicts
returned to a normal interest in themselves and their activities
stopped blaming themselves for the divorce. If you moved as a result
of the divorce, they should have:
adjusted to your new home and their new school, and have made some new
friends.
1 - Emotional injuries
2 - How children may cope
3 - Warning signs
4 - When to seek help
5 - Consider getting help if...
6 - Coping varies from child to child
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