Photo From www.legalaid.ab.ca

By Brendan Miller

Separations can be difficult on children during Family Day long weekend

Feb 17, 2023 | 2:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Many families will be gathering to celebrate the Family Day long weekend, however, others may be dealing with challenges that come with a separation.

It can be a difficult time for Albertans who are navigating a family break, especially for kids.

Legal Aid Alberta, a non-profit organization, would like to remind parents to take steps to avoid exposing their children to adult conflicts.

Caitlin Zeran, a family lawyer with Legal Aid Alberta, says kids tend to get sucked into adult conflicts and exposed to things that may cause them harm.

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She says it’s important that both parents take proactive steps to make sure their children are sheltered from the situation.

“Kids inevitably get pulled into it because parents think that what they’re doing is supporting their child or informing their child about what’s happening and that they should have a right to know how both parents are behaving,” says Zeran.

“But the reality is, especially for younger kids, that can just be traumatizing and it can affect the relationship they have with both parents.”

She says it’s important children are able to view both their parents in a positive light.

“Even if you are frustrated, even if you are angry, even if you’re hurt, even if they have done terrible things to you that does not mean they’re a bad parent,” says Zeran.

She says the overall stress of the separation can be reduced for all family members by making an effort to keep children out of the breakup