Perhaps the most sensitive area addressed was the emotional impact on children and the broader family structure. Divorce fundamentally shifts the child’s world, often leading to loyalty conflicts, regression, and academic or behavioral difficulties.

Our discussion highlighted the paramount importance of parental modeling and consistency. We focused on:

Creating Dual Stability: Ensuring that both households remain places of predictability and safety, thereby minimizing the child’s feeling of displacement.
Addressing Loyalty Binds: How parents can manage their own negative emotions toward the ex-spouse without placing the child in the uncomfortable position of choosing sides.
The Role of Extended Family: Managing the grief and confusion felt by grandparents, aunts, and uncles, and ensuring they provide unified, non-judgmental support to the children.