INTERACTION

CONSULTANTS

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Recently separated? Practice As if Parenting

Some parents feel badly about their separation in view of the kids and are reluctant to follow through with expectations or alternately; they try to buy their children’s affection with toys or favours particularly in view of settling child custody or access matters.

These parents may think they are compensating for the child’s distress over the separation, but they are really trying to assuage their own guilt. While the kids may enjoy the shower of gifts and special liberties, this only gives rise to self-righteousness – a sense of entitlement where they think they can have whatever they want and rules don’t apply. Even though parental separation may be distressful, it can be overcome. A developing sense of self-righteousness can lead to selfish, self-centered, out of control children and can last a lifetime.

Parents are well advised to continue parenting on the as if principle. That is to say, they parent as if they were still together – not separated. The same rules, routines, limits and expectations apply; There are no special favours and no purchasing of extra toys and games. If the children are distressed, parents should talk with them and normalize their upset, not let them get away with inappropriate behaviour or compensate with inappropriate favours or gifts.

Even if one or other parent appears to not heed this advise, this is no reason for both parents to let go of appropriate parenting. Kids need at least one responsible parent who will teach right from wrong, set limits and routines and won’t spoil the child with a shower of gifts.

If parents are concerned that their child will complain or use the difference to manipulate them to grant favours as the other, these parents must still stand their ground. The solution is not to run down the other parent for spoiling the child, but rather to concentrate on being appropriate parents themselves.

Children, even in intact families try to pit one parent against the other. So whether intact or separated, rules, routines, limits and expectations must prevail. Over time the children learn there are different rules with each parent. As long as you remain firm, they learn that you cannot be swayed and they behave accordingly. Over time, they also learn to respect the parent that offers rules, routines, limits and expectations as this provides for a more stable and predictable environment that encourages healthy development.

If a child objects, you can ignore the objection and continue to parent as if. Children’s protesting doesn’t make their demands right. If you wouldn’t do something when you were in an intact family, then shouldn’t do it just because you are separated. Parents must come to terms with the fact that they only have control of themselves and their domicile. They do not have control of the other parent or their domicile. As if parenting begins in one’s own home.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW
(905) 628-4847

gary@yoursocialworker.com
www.yoursocialworker.com
 
Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert on child development, parent-child relations, marital and family therapy, custody and access recommendations, social work and an expert for the purpose of giving a critique on a Section 112 (social work) report.

Search Gary’s name on GOOGLE.COM to view his many articles or visit his website. Call him for your next conference and for expert opinion on family matters. His services include counseling, mediation, assessment and assessment critiques.

For information on Direnfeld's book, Raising Kids Without Raising Cane, click here.