Children of divorce

One out of two marriages in the U-S ends in divorce. Children sometimes will blame themselves for the divorce and feel they're not worthy of love, or they may fear that the parent who leaves won't be their parent any more. They may react in various ways, ranging from having bad dreams and weeping to aggressiveness and poor school work. Parents, in turn, may react by being too permissive or buying children material things to try to compensate. The best approach is to be honest about your feelings, but make a special effort to be loving and reassuring. Concentrate on the child's needs, rather than just your own. Your child needs to feel that both parents care, even the parent who may not have custody. Try to have an amicable relationship with your ex-spouse, for the child's sake. If a child's behavior continues to be disturbed, ask a physician for advice.