Separation is a stressful event in anyone's life and it can provoke a range of difficult feelings or response.
When a couple separate or get divorced, the responses that occur are often compared to the responses people have when there is a death in the family. Of course, separation is different from a death because your ex-spouse is still around.
Children can react in very different ways to separation and divorce.
The way children react to separation depends on a number of issues, including their age at the time and the degree of conflict or animosity between parents.
If you want to apply to the court for a parenting order, from 1 July 2007 you will need a certificate from a registered family dispute resolution practitioner to confirm that an attempt at family dispute resolution was made.
All Relationships Australia practitioners are registered. To find your nearest Relationships Australia practitioner, view our list of office locations or phone us on 1300 364 277.
Parenting is a challenging experience that can put a great deal of pressure on relationships
Whilst bringing up children can be a wonderful experience, it can also be very trying at times. Parenting can place enormous pressure on your relationship with your partner. Yet a loving and supportive relationship is exactly what you and your partner need most when you are facing the challenges of child rearing.
Second marriages and stepfamilies present challenges and new opportunities for couples.
Contrary to their 'bad image', stepfamilies can provide a rich and rewarding environment for the adults and children involved.
In second marriages, couples are often more aware of the difficulties in establishing a successful relationship and are more committed to making the marriage work.
Stepfamilies are different.
Stepfamilies are in some ways like first-time-round families. They are also, in many other ways, vastly different. Most people who become a part of a stepfamily are unprepared for the differences. These differences can include:
Stepfamilies are complex and it may take some time for family relationships to form.
Stepfamilies have complicated sets of relationships to manage. For example, one of the parents will not be the natural parent of one or more of the children. There are likely to be grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings and a parent living outside the family with no links with other members of the stepfamily. Stepfamilies need to address two important issues:
Practical questions to consider before forming a stepfamily
You need to consider a number of practical issues when you re-marry or enter into another relationship, and form a stepfamily.
For example:
