Free parenting guide for separating families
A new free parenting guide is being offered to separating families in Ipswich.
- Amanda Erskine from Barker Gotelee Solicitors is offering the guide for free to local families who are divorcing or separating
- The Parenting Through Separation Guide is written by family professionals and advises parents of how to put their children first during a separation
- The guide is launched during Good Divorce Week which runs from 29 Nov – 3 Dec, run by national family justice organisation Resolution
- This year the focus of Good Divorce Week is parenting through separation
Local family solicitor, Amanda Erskine is offering parents in Ipswich the free guide which contains advice and information to help them put children first during a separation or divorce.
Amanda joins with thousands of family professionals to launch the Parenting Through Separation Guide during Good Divorce Week, an annual initiative by the family justice organisation Resolution to raise awareness of how families can separate amicably.
Amanda explains:
“We know that the pandemic has put huge pressure on families and even more so on those who are separating. Every parent wants to put their children’s interests front and centre, but all too often they don’t know where to turn for help and aren’t given the support they need in order to do this.
It’s important for parents to have access to good, authoritative and professional advice that helps them to parent responsibly through their separation. We hope all local separating parents will use the Parenting Through Separation Guide, to help them find a better way forward for them, and for their children.”
The free guide is available to any parent seeking help during their separation. It contains advice about how to co-parent with a former partner, background on the common disputes that arise between separating parents, and how to talk to children about the painful topic of divorce or separation, plus much more.
Juliet Harvey, National Chair of Resolution, said:
“I’m really pleased to have Amanda’s support during Good Divorce Week. Resolution members like her do really important work in their community to help families separate in a constructive and amicable way. The more families who know about and use the free Parenting Through Separation Guide, the better equipped they will be to navigate the challenges divorce and separation brings, particularly when it comes to putting children first.”
Here’s an extract of advice contained within the guide:
Top tips for discussing divorce with your children
- If your situation allows, try to have a joint conversation when all of your children are present. Keep this age appropriate.
- Plan a series of conversations, including different follow up conversations, if your children are different ages. Be mindful that their reactions will depend on their age, developmental stage and their individual personality.
- Reassure your children that it is okay to feel sad or scared and showing emotion is good. They can always talk to either of you and ask questions.
Remember you are a role model and your children are watching how you manage this situation. If they see that you are still their parents, making decisions together about them, then they will cope better.
If you would like access to the full guide or have any other queries regarding parenting during divorce, contact us.
Amanda Erskine is a solicitor in the Family department at Barker Gotelee Solicitors in Ipswich.
Ipswich Family Solicitors – for more information on our range of legal services, please call the team on 01473 611211 or email [email protected]
