Children

Separation is an especially painful time for children. However, it is a high level of parental conflict that damages children the most. Children caught in the crossfire suffer more than those whose parents are able to co-operate over arrangements.

Many parents are able to work out a co-parenting plan in mediation. This will help to take them right through telling their children (and what to tell them). It covers where they are to live, and arrangements for seeing the other parent and holidays. Parents should be able to work together in the interests of their children. They need to be able to pick up the phone to discuss a bad school report or a good one - and to meet at school events without their children (and them) dreading it.

It's still not always easy, but it's better than the alternative