CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 10
FOREWORD 12
PART 1 The beginning of the journey
Chapter 1 Entry points 16
Chapter 2 Overwhelming emotions 24
Chapter 3 Loss 32
Chapter 4 Grief 43
Chapter 5 Emotional aftershocks 51
PART 2 The parenting highway: raising our children
Chapter 1 Is it because I'm a single parent? 66
Chapter 2 Parenting styles 72
Chapter 3 Boundaries 75
Chapter 4 Fill up your child's emotional tank 79
Chapter 5 Helping our children through separation,
divorce, and bereavement 87
Chapter 6 Parenting a child of the opposite sex 96
Chapter 7 Role reversal 105
Chapter 8 Lighten up and have some fun 110
PART 3 When the road splits: sharing the parenting
Chapter 1 Custody and contact 114
Chapter 2 Communicate! 123
Chapter 3 A united parenting style 130
Chapter 4 Parental alienation 135
Chapter 5 Non-resident parenting 142
PART 4 The climb uphill: getting equipped for the journey
Chapter 1 Friendship and support 150
Chapter 2 Forgiveness 158
Chapter 3 Money, money, money 162
Chapter 4 Know your limits - stress and well-being 166
Chapter 5 Finding yourself and moving towards the
future 177
Chapter 6 The dating scene 186
Chapter 7 You are more important than you know 193
APPENDIX Further information and support 196