Final Exam

1. Continued conflict between parents is the most destructive aspect of separating and the most detrimental to children.

2. When parents are dealing with their children, the age of the child is not an issue.

3. Finances are among the biggest challenges facing separating couples.

4. If possible, both parents should together tell their children about the decision to separate.

5. Most experts today view a couple separating as a single event.

6. Mediators help parents focus on the important issues and help them avoid blaming one another.

7. Parents are justified in interrupting visitation rights if the other parent refuses to pay child support.

8. Parents should work hard to avoid any negative emotions during a separation.

9. Parents should understand and respect the fact that the other parent will have different rules when the children are with them.

10. When dealing with a difficult parent, the other parent should become just as difficult.

11. It is not uncommon for children to have varying emotional responses to the family transitioning to two households.

12. You must like your co-parent in order to be effective.

13. Parents should make room for a variety of reactions from their children.

14. Parents will have difficulty making good choices for their kids when they do not take care of themselves.

15. When introducing a new dating partner, parents should trust a child’s initial reaction.

16. Parenting plans are only a guideline and parents should be flexible with one another.

17. If you cannot communicate with your co-parent, you should speak through the children to keep the peace.

18. Grieving can be difficult, but it is ultimately healthy.

19. Children ages 3-6 are most concerned with how the divorce will affect their future relationships.

20. Physical complaints in children are rare during their parent’s break-up.

21. Eating and sleeping problems are a normal reaction to their parent’s separation for elementary-school-age children.

22. The more comfortable a parent is with the idea of separating, the more comfortable their child or children will be.

23. The first priority after separating from your partner should be getting into a new stable relationship.

24. New step-parents should take their lead from biological parents with respect to discipline.

25. One of the pitfalls for new step-parents is working too hard.

26. You can experience a lot of difficult emotions and still find ways to express them appropriately while being an effective parent to your children.

27. A child witnessing one parent being abused by the other is usually not that damaging.

28. Your children can be happy and healthy in spite of the fact that their parents are divorced.

29. Finding ways to compliment your co-parent’s parenting abilities is important.

30. You should be supportive and involved if your co-parent thinks your children should go to counseling.