Collateral Damage: Guiding and Protecting Your Children through the Minefield of Divorce sounds a wake-up call for parents, revealing the impact of divorce for children. Based on a study of more than 10,000 children and parents of divorce, Collateral Damage offers parents clear guidance to help their children avoid the unfortunate consequences often suffered by children of divorce. 

 

While appearing resilient, children often suffer in silence as a result of their parents divorce. To understand children's needs, at each stage of their development, Collateral Damage shows parents how to communicate effectively and avoid embroiling their children in detrimental stress. Part One of this volume outlines the needs of children that require attention so that they do not feel that their childhood ends or that there is no longer a family to provide them with the sustenance that they require from a home. Part Two helps parents take solid care of themselves in order to provide nurturance, healthy boundaries, and leadership that their children require. 

 

Numerous studies confirm that children of divorce are more prone to disturbing physical, emotional, and spiritual problems, including poor academic performance, serious relational deficits, greater risk of divorce themselves, criminal behavior, substance abuse and even suicide. It doesn't have to be this way. The failure of a marriage does not mean the end of a family. By securing your children with healthy relationships and meeting their needs, children of divorce can achieve their goals and pursure authentic, successful, and fulfilling paths.

Collateral Damage  shows parents how to most effectively come through for their kids.  It identifies the landmines inherent in the dangerous terrain of divorce and equips them to help their children not to feel abandoned or unheard. Topics covered include:

 

• Building the family—not ending it

• Tuning into your kids 

• Meeting your kids real needs

• Stabilizing childhood

• Maintaining parent/child roles

• Being Actively Present

• Keeping kids out of the war zone

• Instilling trust

• Keeping open lines of communication

• Attuning to guiding, spiritual resources 

• Inspiring with lessons for a meaningful life

 

The failure of a marriage does not mean the end of the family. Providing a stable, supportive, healthy relationship with your children demonstrates what a loving relationship looks like, and how their family can thrive, better preparing them for intimate relationships and marriage as an adult.