Smart Parenting During and After Divorce: Your New Beginning

Part of the difficulty that people have in post-divorce life is the issue of closure and the confusing emotions that the end of relationships sometimes bring about—you want to end the relationship, but you don't want to let it go. This is difficult even in relationships where there are no children involved. But it can be more difficult when the marriage produced children; many parents see each other in the behavior, mannerisms, and physical appearance of their children, and this can make a clean break that much more difficult.

You and your co-parent will always be involved with one another, because even after children grow up they still get married, have children, and perpetuate the circle of life, all of which require the participation of you and your co-parent.

The best part about all of this is that the older children get, the better they are at understanding what each of their parents is dealing with. You children will never be too old for you to show them the value of tolerance, taking the high road, and civilized control of one's emotions. As children get older it becomes easier to appreciate the contributions of the parent who fusses less, bends more, and refuses to sour at the thought of having to occupy the same space as the co-parent.

Do yourself a favor and start earning that appreciation sooner rather than later!