Meadowlass - that is a fantastic post- thankyou! You should write it as an article in Woman and Home. Wise, sensible and yet cautiously optimistic.

Hope things work out for you personally.

Julie.

PS - I particularly liked your comment: "they quickly learn that what they really think and feel doesn't matter much to their parent. This is the basis of "children are very adaptable and resilient" the platitude which most adults trot out whenever a child has been affected by divorce or bereavement. "