Coping with Divorce

Nearly half of all marriges end in tragic divorce, and that number is growing each day. Although many people don't realize it, the real victims of divorce are the parents' children. Many teens have a difficult time understanding and dealing with a divorce in the family.

Its important to keep yourself from being used by one parents to manipulate, hurt or find information about the other parent. If your parents are going through a divorce it can be very helpful to ask your parents to follow a "bill of rights" for yourself and your siblings. The following are some suggestions of things to include in such a "bill of rights":

• Don't ask us to take sides
• Don't "grill" us on what happens at the ex's home.
• Do not turn us into messengers and ways to communicate with the ex.
• Do not insult the other parent around us; we still love them.
• Don't make us feel as though we are being disloyal if we enjoy spending time with the other parent.