Choosing Sides—Part Two—When Your Children get Stuck in the Middle

It is unfortunate, but for many of us single parents, one of the realities that we have to face is how to get our lives to feel less like different, competing camps and more like we are all on the same team. If there is tension or disagreement—whether between the two parents or if other members of the extended families get involved—this can be incredibly hard on our children. I think it is a definite problem when the children feel as though they need to choose sides… I have always been “against” children being asked to choose which parent they … Continue reading

Choosing Sides—Part One—When Friends and Family Start Choosing

It can be fairly common in a divorced or separated family for it to feel like there are different camps. To be honest, I think it is the rare situation where at least some of the individuals involved don’t feel like they need to choose sides and stake out a camp. For those of us who are trying to remain neutral or who are trying to protect our children from a situation where they will feel the tug and pull of side-taking, negotiating the “war zone” can be incredibly challenging and uncomfortable. To be completely fair, I know of two-parent … Continue reading