This book provides timely and welcome news: in more than fifty per cent of divorces today, couples succeed in dissolving their marriages, yet preserving their families. Constance Ahrons examines the complex dilemmas couples face as they separate as spouses while remaining connected as parents, and once and for all dispels the myth that divorce inevitably leaves emotionally troubled children in its wake. It also serves as a guide to responsible divorce. The book contains vivid, thoroughly researched case histories that will help couples to understand the normal, predictable crises of separation and that they can move beyond the confusing, even terrifying, early stages of break-up and learn to deal with the transition from a nuclear to a binuclear family - a family that spans two households and yet retains the important emotional bonds of kinship. It makes an important contribution to the high profile family values, debate, and is a powerful antidote for the millions of divorced parents - and their families, friends, lawyers, therapists and politicians - who are tired of hearing only negative accounts of divorce.