Parenting
Sites
The
Divorce Survival Guide Newsletters
There are currently 22 quite wonderful "newsletters" on this
site dealing with all sorts of issues experienced by separating and divorcing
couples. Each is written at a serious level and is more than surface advice.
You can feel comfortable that giving this site to a client will likely
result in him or her finding something of value to their current experience.
Topics range from "The Stress of the Breakup","Surviving
Divorce","Relationship After Divorce: Three Steps from Surviving
to Thriving","Difficult People - Seeking Cooperation","Recovering
from Betrayal", "Holiday Survival Tips", "Coping With
Anger", and more. Well worth checking out.
20 Long Distance
Activities For: - Dads at a Distance - Moms Over Miles - Grandparenting
From a Distance
The National Long Distance Relationship Building Institute has a series
of websites devoted to activities for dads, moms, and grandparents, who
live at a distance from their children/grandchildren. Some of the ideas
are a bit too "cute" but others are great and can be adapted
for any separated parent interested in finding ways to maintain a presence
in their child's life between visits. These are sites whose names tell
it all. The address at the left takes you to the Fambooks home page which
says it's under construction, but it has the entrance to each of the sites
listed.
Shared Parenting
Information Group (SPIG) UK
This is a terrific site to explore concept of Shared Parenting. The site's
"mission" is "To promote responsible shared parenting after
separation and divorce. To make available information, research and resources
to all concerned." And what a great job they do! The site has pages
dealing with arguments for and against shared parenting to be used in
court, guidelines to help separating parents avoid problems, parenting
plans, and so much more. If you have a client interested in pursuing this,
or who might be open to considering this idea, this is the site to send
them to.
Beyond
Cinderella and Snow White: Challenging the Myth of the Wicked Stepmother
This is an intriguing report found in The Applied Research Bulletin, Volume
3, No. 2 (Summer-Fall 1997) from Human Resources Development Canada. These
Bulletins summarize recent work of a research or analytical nature carried
out under the auspices of the Applied Research Branch, Strategic Policy.
Amongst other things - stepmothers are more likely to report (34% to 28%
of biological or adoptive mothers) that they rarely had fun with their
children, but they're no more likely to frequently punish their children
for breaking rules. About 40 percent of all parents report that they often
punish their children. The Bulletin states:
While the wicked stepmother doesn't
appear in the data, unfortunately there do seem to be more problems in
stepfamilies. "Punishment for rule-breaking was most common in blended
families where both partners brought their own children from previous
relationships into the new marriage .... Such families probably have multiple
stresses, including financial strains, which some parents may find hard
to handle."
Twelve
Common Questions Asked By Step Parents
If your client is, or is about to become, a step parent here's a group
of questions they have probably thought of or should be thinking about.
If you get a box requiring a password, just press Cancel to proceed.
Making
Lemonade: The Single Parents Network
Here's a terrific site for clients who are becoming single parents. The
Link
Lounge has a great list of links to other single parent sites and
it has a quite wonderful - and large - selection of articles to read in
the Articles
Section. Highly recommended.
ParentsPlace.com Blended Families Articles
A good selection of articles dealing with the issues of step-parenting.
Includes articles grouped under such headings as: Starting over, Step-children,
Step-Parents, Names/Roles, Having babies.
Kids'
Turn
Kids' Turn is a bit of a surprise as a website. It's by a non-profit
organization dedicated to helping kids and parents through divorce and
does a really great job. The site is divided into 3 sections: for Kids,
Parents, and Others. The sections for Kids and for Parents are terrific
in that they each have Q&A sections, articles, and book selections
appropriate to the audience. As well, the site has one of the best collections
of links around - with descriptions about each site mentioned - in their
Webliography
section.
Smart
Marriage
This is a really interesting site with all sorts of articles and information
available. The bias is clear, and refreshing. That marriage is a good
thing and that there're things we can do to support and enhance it. While
this might not appear to be of obvious interest to our clients, we must
remember that most of them will be remarrying and this sort of material
shows that there's a positive spin to put on marriage.
Children's
Rights Council
The CRC is an American non-profit organization "that works to
assure children meaningful and continuing contact with both their parents
and extended family regardless of the parents' marital status." The
site is full of information. Take a look at their Newsletter and Research
sections. In particular check out their extensive listing of Books which
has sections for Shared Parenting, Step Families, etc.
Fathers
Are Capable Too
This is a non-custodial group - primarily fathers - with concerns about
their rights to be with their children. While the site is very focussed,
their collection of articles on various topics such as Parental Alienation,
Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Neglect, Fathering, etc. is very worthwhile.
Sharedparenting.com
Not a lot, but better something than nothing.
|