| The outcome of divorce is not limited to the emotional | | | | parents may ultimately end up together after all. |
| trauma that the divorced couple undergoes. The | | | | Children react in different ways - they may resort to |
| disenchantment that the child of a failed marriage | | | | inflicting pain on themselves, being the victim of |
| experiences often remains unnoticed. Unlike the | | | | depression and sense of powerlessness. Symptoms |
| parents, the child cannot foresee the disbanding of the | | | | of depression include abandonment of society, loss of |
| marriage and the family set-up, they are too young to | | | | spontaneity, as well as antagonism and irrational |
| perceive the warning signs. There is nothing to prepare | | | | behavior. Often the child's relationship with its friends |
| them beforehand from the terrible pain of divorce. | | | | and family, including siblings, are affected too. |
| Even the adolescents lack the practical sense of | | | | To help the children deal with their emotional ordeal, the |
| moving on with life in the face of the termination of | | | | parents need to bear certain things in mind throughout |
| their established routine of everyday life. | | | | the divorce proceedings, and afterwards as well. They |
| Parents try to break the news of an impending | | | | should not criticize or squabble with each in front of the |
| divorce to the children as gently as possible. They | | | | children. They must not exert pressure of any kind on |
| assure the kids that it is not their fault that their parents | | | | the children to take sides, even though the marital |
| are no longer staying together. However, what the | | | | relation ends, the parental relation of either partner with |
| parents say only confuses the young minds. The | | | | the children continues. It is unfair to turn the child into a |
| children are not mature enough to understand the | | | | go-between or conciliator, or to use it as an instrument |
| workings of an intimate relationship, or to grasp the | | | | for meting out further abuse on the husband or the |
| reasons for its failure. The parents need to understand | | | | wife. Since all the disciplinary actions have been |
| the difference between their feelings for their spouse | | | | handled out and all vital information imparted to the |
| from what the child feels towards its caregiver. The | | | | child so far has been done collectively, the news of |
| teachers and administrative authorities in educational | | | | the fall out should also be delivered together by both |
| institutions should be informed about the divorce. This | | | | parents. Lastly, even after the divorce the separated |
| will enable them to understand any sudden change in | | | | couple must find ways to keep on parenting without |
| the behavioral pattern of the children and can be | | | | imposing added anxiety upon the children. Loads of |
| supportive and sympathizing. The child forms its own | | | | care and understanding, keeping the channel for |
| assumptions and often bear pent up emotions against | | | | communication open, constant assurance about the |
| what they have to experience. This results in | | | | parents' unconditional love despite the separation are |
| occasional hostile behavior or belligerence, towards the | | | | the best way to guide the child thorough this difficult |
| parents or towards other people. The child may also | | | | phase. |
| feel that if it minds its manners and behave nicely, its | | | | |