Parents Breaking Up-What can a child or children do in regard to this?

Answer 1

Not knowing the specific of the individual reasons for the decision of parents to breakup up, trying to tell a child or children how to deal with it would be difficult in the least. The primary problem with the break down of the family is not the immediate affect, but the long term, and ultimately, its affect on society as a whole.

What we can start with is educating them on those long term affects. Yes, even parents need to be taught lessens, and who better than their children, so let's start with some reference articles (see links below):

"We know that children of divorced parents have more emotional and behavioral problems and do less well in school than children who live with both their Parent."

Divorce, Nontraditional Families, and Its Consequences for Children

Stanford University, California

"Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears has noted, children born to unmarried women and to those in cohabiting relationships "must often overcome increased risks of poverty, education failure, child abuse, delinquency, emotional distress and mental illness."…….the lack of a father's guidance in children's lives is a major cause of their suffering. "Marriage is the best child welfare, crime prevention, anti-poverty program we have,"

All Children Deserve Two Parents

The Herald-Gazette, Georgia

"Ominously, the most reliable predictor of crime is neither poverty nor race but growing up fatherless."

Fatherless Families & Crime

Fortune Magazine

If you have the money, you might want to buy one or more of these books to give your parents, or just give them the list (See Links Below):

• 10 Stupid Things Couples do to Mess up Their Relationships

• 10 Stupid Things Men Do to Mess Up Their Lives

• 10 Stupid Things Women Do to Mess up Their Lives

• Stop Whining, Start Living

• Stupid Things Parents Do to Mess Up Their Kids

• The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage

• Woman Power: Transform Your Man, Your Marriage, Your Life

If your parents are intent on this, than consider asking for Joint Physical Custody of them, rather than the other way around, or worse, living with one parent, while "visiting" the other.

Instead of "LIVING" or "Visiting"one of them, they can LIVE WITH YOU, and your siblings. You remain in the home, and each parent can live there for three weeks, than switch. Once a week, the parent not in residence takes you and your siblings out for an evening to dinner, Bowling, etc. While in resident, the parent does not date, nor have overnight guests, other than relatives. This includes after work drinks, or staying the night elsewhere, while you have a sitter. Other than going to work, their time in the home belongs to the children, solely.

On the off weeks, the parent rents a room, stays with relatives or friends, or they can split the cost of a two-bedroom apartment that they share, with each having their own secured room.

The priority here is that YOU, THE CHILDREN, not having your lives disrupted by the poor choices of your parents. Your parents' lives are equally disrupted, and they split the cost of being in the home, or a percentage, using child support guidelines as an example. If child support is ordered, both parents can pay into a Trust Fund that pays the household expenses, in accordance with Federal Regulations. Anything over and above those expenses remains in the fund to collect interest. It can be used in emergencies, and/or for college educations.

You keep your own rooms, friends, and schools. There's no shifting back and forth, packing bags, and making new friends. There are no arguments over not wanting to go visit the other parent, for the weekend, because you have a date, a school function, or some other event.

In addition, less likelihood of either parent remarrying, having more children, or dealing with stepparents, step-siblings, step grandparents, etc. Your parents remain dedicated to you.

In the final sense, perhaps they will relearn what they once had, and why you exist. You could become the glue that puts the family back together.

When you are grown, and completely out of the home, than the home (if owned) can be sold, or whatever the parents want to do with it. They can than move on with their lives to do whatever they want.

This is called Bird Nest Custody.

YOU, THE CHILDREN, REMAIN IN THE NEST, AND EACH OF THE PARENT BIRDS TAKE TURNS BEINGS THERE.