The Divorce Helpbook for Kids

Cynthia MacGregor

Jan 2001 · Impact Publishers

About this ebook

It's in the news every day: divorce is tough on kids. MacGregor knows how tough, and she has prepared a down-to-earth guide that genuinely helps. Included are discussions of many topics troubling kids when their parents divorce: reasons parents get divorced; ways the divorce will change kids' lives; kids' feelings about divorce; things kids can do to help them feel better; who to talk to; what's likely to happen next. This is not just a book for kids about divorce, though. It's a book about life after divorce, too. The kids in MacGregor's book are dealing with visitation and custody and straddling two households and making it all work. Maybe it isn't easy, but it is possible and it is necessary. Recommended for children ages 8-12. Contains a newly updated resources guide for parents and children and a "Note to Parents" by Hugh R. Leavell, PhD, author of The One-Minute Therapist, and Palm Beach Post columnist.

Ratings and reviews

MacGregor's engaging style quickly establishes empathy with this challenging group, offering genuine warmth and reliable advice along with sensitivity to her readers' many vulnerabilities. Her objective is not to function as a single-handed self-help guru; throughout the book she reminds kids to turn to trusted individuals in their lives for additional help. She maintains a thoughtful level of clear-headed reassurance, gently urging them to think outside their pain and confusion to realize they're not alone. She offers age-appropriate comforts, effective ways to fight depression, and reasonable options for regaining the sense of security that divorce shatters. What I like best about this book, aside from MacGregor's unfailing instinct for zeroing in on crucial issues, is her knack for relating to kids on a warm, nonjudgmental, respectfully informative way. Her attitude of compassionate practicality guides them -- without preaching -- to make wise choices. She counters common erroneous conclusions kids are apt to draw about divorce (I.e., it's their fault Mom and Dad broke up; they can get Mom and Dad back together, etc.), with insightful reality checks that avoid making the reader feel patronized. She's a staunch advocate, defending kids' right to refuse to participate in unfair tactics (like being used as messengers or spies) their divorced parents may resort to. At the same time, she underscores the importance of preserving relationships where possible by meeting each parent halfway. MacGregor's goal is to get kids to see that, while they can't undo the divorce, they can avoid many of the resulting hassles. This sense of control is a crucial gift this skilled, empathetic author offers her readers. This book is a great starting point for clearing hurdles and moving forward.

The divorce helpbook for kids