Chapter 2 Your Family 47
They may feel pressure to fi ll the role of the absent parent. Sometimes children
try to reunite their parents.
Many changes occur during a divorce. One or both parents may decide
to move out of the family home. Possessions and property are usually
divided. A move may mean making new friends. Children may have to
attend different schools. The mother may become a full-time wage earner
for the fi rst time. Child care services may be needed for preschoolers. Older
children may have to accept more responsibilities in caring for the home and
siblings. There may be less allowance to spend and fewer comforts to enjoy.
An older teen may decide to fi nd a part-time job to help ease the strain on the
family budget.
For some couples, divorce may seem to be the only way to end tension and
arguments. In this sense, the changes caused by a divorce can help a family.
Family members can work together to adjust to the new situation. They can
use this as an opportunity to become closer. Getting professional advice and
help is another healthy way to handle the stress of divorce. Do not be afraid to
ask for, or seek, help.
Remarriage
If the single parent remarries, the family unit changes again, 2-12.
Stepfamilies result in new forms of family life for everyone. Often, both
2-12 The addition of a stepparent and stepchildren may require the family to readjust.
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