Some people best manage a breakup by walking out the door and never looking back, and doing their grieving alone. This just isn't possible where there is property to manage and divide, and it's especially not possible when a couple people have children. You can't change your phone number, you can't stop answering the phoneor replying to texts, and you can't refuse to see your former partner if you have children. You are still mom or dad, and you'll always be mom or dad and have a relationship with the other parent until or unless your children predecease you.

As a result, it is 's even more critical for important that you to properly manage the roller-coaster emotions of separation when you have children. You may be caught up in a whirlwind of anger and remorse at the present, but you have to think of the long-term effect of any rash behaviour. Do you want to be able to attend your child's graduation ceremony? Do you want to go to your child's wedding? How do you want your child to think of you in five years, or look back on your separation when they're young adults?

It is enormously difficult, but you simply must keep a button lid on your emotions while you grieve. Dr. Emery offers these suggestions in ''The Truth about Children and Divorce'':