Customer Reviews

When Mom and Dad Divorce:: An Elf-Help Book for Kids (Elf-Help Books for Kids)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Mom and Dad Divorce: An Elf-Help Book for Kids is a must read for families undergoing the trauma of divorce. Written with sensitivity, the book covers the whole range of emotions children experience when they learn of an upcoming divorce. It is a book children can turn to over and over again as they progress through their own stages of divorce recovery. It is filled with the reassuring messages that children of divorcing parents need to hear. And it is as artistically beautiful as it is emotionally satisfying. I wish I had this book to read to my children when our family was going through divorce.

While this book was very helpful for my son, I couldn't get past the two references of mom and dad "not loving each other." How do you explain the complexity of love to a seven year old? I have no answers other than to say that I was uncomfortable reading to my son that mommy and I don't love each other anymore. We very much do, and while its hard to explain to a seven year old, I had to ad-lib around these two references letting him know that I will always love his mother, but its just not in the same way that it use to be. I want to teach him a deeper understanding of love. All-in-all a good book - many of the themes are helpful for him and for this I thank you.

Under almost any circumstances, divorce is difficult and emotionally draining. When children are involved, the parents' added concern about them can make the situation seem almost overwhelming.

Each child ultimately must find his or her own way to accept the reality of the divorce and come to terms with that new reality. Nothing makes the process easy, but this little book can help. In a tone that's a beautiful balance of frankness and warmth, it says the things a wise and loving older friend might say. It acknowledges the sadness everyone is feeling, it talks about how things may be different in the future, and it conveys two messages the child needs to hear. The first is: "Things will be different, but they'll work out OK." And the second is, "You're not alone."