Life can be hard. As human beings we experience a range of emotions, even in a single day. We are constantly navigating through an environment full of economic, social, environmental and emotional stressors, simply by being where we are in our own lives. Under the best of circumstances, there are days we feel we are courageous and victorious because we have made it through another day, and we are.

Oftentimes these stressors cause symptoms in ourselves and in our families resulting in conflict, separation and divorce. The sense of irreconcilable differences and the fractured feelings within us become realized in our personal relationships. Divorce, separation and conflict with our child’s other parent create enormous stress in our lives. Because these events reach, touch and expose our most cherished relationships, our children, we experience a vulnerability that even job loss and financial crisis do not elicit in us.

What is essential is the unwavering commitment to engage and employ what is the best in ourselves when making decisions about our children. Compassion, integrity attention and the willingness to listen are the means to that end.