Category: Resilient Children

Risk, Resilience, and Protective Factors

By Susan Griffin Relationships with loving adults in your extended family(ies) can protect your child from the debilitating effects of the chronic stress and trauma of a family breakup. Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie, Uncle, Cousins, special friends. These people love your child without judgement or hidden motives. Losing these important relationships will only cause more grief […]

Written by on May 4, 2021

To Put your Child First, Just say “Yes!”

By SUSAN GRIFFIN Some parents keep the conflict in the family home going because they refuse to move out. They are concerned about the STATUS QUO in terms of parenting and property. So they stay in the family home, refusing to move, so that they can tell the judge “but your honor I was the […]

Written by on May 4, 2021

Is it Child Abuse?

By SUSAN GRIFFIN A 5 year old returns to his mother’s house and asks his step-father, “does my mommy really love my daddy more than she loves you?” An 8 year old returns from a week-end spent with her father, and tells her mother “it’s your fault that daddy doesn’t have any money anymore.” A […]

Written by on May 4, 2021

The Power of Routine

By SUSAN GRIFFIN What is the best way to help children make a healthy transition from living in one home to living in two homes? Simple: Keep the routine. When parents separate, it is important for children to stay in a daily routine with as few changes as possible so children have the energy for […]

Written by on August 8, 2018

More on Risk and Resilience

By SUSAN GRIFFIN Some researchers on divorce and family breakup in high conflict families have looked at the question many parents ask. Is it better for the children if the parents separate? Or is it better for the children if the parents stay together? The answer? Conflict and negativity harm children. Hostility and parental warmth […]

Written by on August 3, 2018