Separating is almost always a painful experience for all concerned, both for the parents and the children.

• We’ve been separated for a year. The children are with their father every other weekend. But every time they come back from staying with him, they are completely off-the-wall.
• My wife left me three weeks ago taking our two children. I’m frightened that she will never come back!
• I don’t want my two year old daughter to go on holiday for two weeks with my ex-husband and his girlfriend.

A separation is an event which not only challenges the very idea of the family as a unit, but can also be more or less unsettling for every member of the family. A split or a separation is never easy to live through. Parents are wrapped up in their battles. They have to manage to cope with their feelings of anger, sadness, disappointment and failure... Whilst at the same time, they have to reorganise their daily lives, housing, finances and work, etc. For many separated or divorced parents, the greatest challenge is to make arrangements which take into account the best interests of the children, whilst still being considered fair by both parents. For the children, the parents will still remain their parents: even is a couple separates, they still have a joint responsibility towards their child. For children, their parents’ separation can be much harder to go through if their parents involve them or use them in their battles between themselves.

For parents wrapped up in the turmoil of a separation, it may often not be easy to be impartial. Setting up good solutions for the children is exceptionally demanding for a couple in dispute.

Don’t remain isolated with your questions and difficulties. At Elterentelefon you’ll find conscientious listeners who will be able to help you understand and manage your situation.