A documentary recently shown on HBO called "Don’t Divorce Me! Kids’ Rules for Parents on Divorce" looked at divorce from the kid’s point of view and delivered a very important message. The film introduces more than two dozen children whose common thread is divorce.
What most kids want
There were a number of moving stories in this film, but all stories seemed to revolve around three main messages:
- “Tell me it’s not my fault."
- “Don’t put me in the middle."
- “Don’t take your anger out on me."
Unfortunately, because of the stress in divorce, from living arrangements to how they will pay their legal fees, many parents do not take the time to listen to what their children are saying
What kids are saying
Among the stories are Grace Goss, a seventh-grader in New York City. Her advice to parents: “When you’re travelling from house to house, make sure it’s very easy and you help your kids get the stuff they need. We have a spot in the closet and anything that has to go to my dad’s house gets put in the closet so it’s totally easy to go back and forth.”
From Erin Delaney, a 12-year-old from Greenbelt, Md.: Parents should “spend a lot of time with their kids and do their best to make sure the kids know it’s not their fault. I personally did not think it was my fault, but I know people who have.”
If you have children and a divorce has touched their lives, take the time to find and watch this film, and it may drastically change your perspective.
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