How can I support my niece and nephews whose mom and dad are currently going through a divorce? It's very difficult for all of them, and I want to be there for them.

[answer]
Just your intention to be supportive is received by your niece and nephews!

Being with them in a relaxed atmosphere that allows them to ask you questions or to talk about their feelings is very helpful. And if you can schedule consistent dates and times, it will give them something to look forward to and make them feel more secure about their immediate future.

If they are old enough to write, I would give them a diary - one that can be kept private with a lock and key. This is a wonderful outlet for the expression of ideas and feelings that might be too scary or upsetting to talk about.

Very often siblings bond together during a separation or divorce which gives them a sense of cohesion and security. You can support this by emphasizing team games and cooperative efforts to strengthen their connections with each other.

You may want to take a look at a very good book called The Boys and Girls Book on Divorce by Richard Gardner. It is a classic on this difficult topic.

Good luck,
Natalie Robinson Garfield
TheSenseConnection.wordpress.com

Photo: Wavebreak Media Ltd
Published: April 26, 2017