Ending a marriage is never easy for a couple, and it
can be downright damaging for their children when
a breakup turns into a battle. Mike Fisher looks
at how families can reduce the shockwaves of the
breakup earthquake
Avoiding the
When a couple breaks up, it sends shockwaves through a family.
Depending on the seismic forceof this breakup, anger, sadness,confusion and conflict reverberatethrough the family.
These feelings can tear apart familyrelationships in the same way anearthquake tears apart buildings,bridges and other structures. Whenthe breakup earthquake goes on andon, it can generate toxic stress. Toxicstress is never good, but it’s especiallyharmful to children because it canblock or weaken brain development.
“The shockwaves of thebreakup earthquake can start earlywith children very aware of theunderlying conflicts,” says JanisPritchard, a collaborative practicelawyer and mediator withPritchard & Co. Law Firm inMedicine Hat.
But families can avoid the damageof the breakup earthquake with legaloptions different from traditionaldivorce and separation methods.
Avoid conflict in divorce
One is collaborative practice, arelatively new way that divorcingor separating couples can resolvedisputes respectfully and equitably—
of divorce
breakup earthquakeOur brain
Illustrations:SophieBlackall
