Why are my parents separating or getting divorced?

There are lots of reasons why some parents split up. Usually, it’s because one (or both) of them is unhappy. They might think they need to be apart to make things better. Your parents may argue and shout, but remember it is not your fault that this is happening.

When parents split up, they have to think about lots of different things, like where you will live and when you will see the parent that you don’t live with. Sometimes parents find it difficult to agree on plans for their children so they might have to involve professionals like lawyers or judges.

It might take some time for everyone to get used to new ways. But most children find that things get better over time. Some children live with either their mum or dad most of the time and visit the other parent at weekends or over the holidays. Some children spend the same amount of time with each of their parents. Some children spend time with other people, like grandparents. Some children have stepfamilies. A stepfamily is when one or both of your parents live with someone who isn’t your mum or dad. They may have children too. Remember, families come in all shapes and sizes!

What can I do?

It can be very confusing when parents split up. You could talk to an adult, like a parent or teacher, about any questions you have. You could also talk to friends, they might have been through the same thing as you. You might feel sad, lonely, angry or confused. It’s normal to feel all these things. Sometimes you might feel lots of different things all at once. It’s ok to have mixed feelings, like feeling happy and sad at the same time. You might want to keep your feelings hidden but sometimes it helps to talk to someone. If you don’t want to talk to someone you know, check out the Get Help Now links.