Parents of Divorcing Children - Press Release for Your Child's Divorce

The following release is provided for our media friends. For additional information, email publicity@impactpublishers.com.

Parents of Divorcing Children:

Building Bridges Over Thorny Terrain

Ben sounded odd on the phone, and Nora's "mother's radar" clicked into alert mode. Then she heard the words no parent is ever quite prepared for: "Mom, Dad... Joan and I are getting a divorce." Nora and her husband Gary found themselves helpless on the sidelines, unsure of their role now, wanting to help Ben and Joan but afraid to interfere and make things worse.

Four million other parents like you go through this wrenching ordeal every year. Yet only you know how devastating an experience this is for you and your family. Hundreds of books about marital breakup have been published, but an enormous segment of society has been neglected: the parents of divorcing children. How do you provide a steadying influence, deal with your own emotions, and avoid offering the wrong advice?

"Parents have an obligation to support their child without having all the answers about what went wrong in the marriage," says Marsha Temlock. "This is a time when your child is banking on your loyalty. You want to convey the message, 'I'm here for you. I support you.' And you want to send this message often."

Temlock wrote Your Child's Divorce: What to Expect — What You Can Do to help parents trying to keep the family together even in the midst of pain, sadness, and acrimony. "You can strengthen your relationship with your child during and after a divorce, facilitate family renewal and regeneration, and be role models for your children and grandchildren," she asserts. "You can also hasten your own recovery as you make this journey with your divorcing child."

Empathy and clear advice for proceeding realistically distinguish this unique volume. Dilemmas addressed include:

Resisting the impulse to fix "perceived" problems.
Weighing the legal, financial and domestic issues of divorce -- from a parent’s vantage point.
Avoiding the dangers of becoming overwhelmed and overextended.
Helping your grandchildren deal effectively with their parents’ divorce.
Disengaging after the rescue period without abandoning your child.

Family members interested in supporting someone going through separation or divorce can draw on the wealth of insights, suggestions, and resources this practical guide offers. Adult children concerned about parents becoming overly involved in their lives during their divorce can use its guidelines to establish healthy boundaries. Professionals who work with divorcing couples will find each chapter's guideposts and workbook exercises useful tools for understanding emotions, prioritizing needs, dealing with transitions, and strengthening family bonds.

"Divorce does not exist in a vacuum," Temlock emphasizes. "There will be many shifts in relationships that are not within your control. The only control you can exercise is over the relationship you have with your son or daughter. Be someone your child can turn to. Be a trusted listener. Be a comforter. In addition, if possible, be an optimist."

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Marsha Temlock, M.A., is an author, former staff member of the Family and Children’s Agency of Norwalk, and weekly columnist with the New Canaan News-Review. She also helped her two adult children successfully cope with difficult divorces.

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Your Child's Divorce is available at online and local bookstores nationwide or directly from Impact Publishers, P.O. Box 6016, Atascadero, CA 93423-6016, www.impactpublishers.com, or phone 1-800-246-7228.