Here are some tips for dealing with other situations you may be experiencing.
Some teens find it hard to tell people that their parents are splitting up. Sometimes they worry about what others will think, or that their friends will think they’re different now. Here are some suggestions:
Remember: Good friends will be glad you've told them. They will know that you're still you, even though your family is changing.
Living partly with one parent and partly with the other can be confusing at first, but it can also be new and exciting. The first thing you’ll have to do is to get organized.
Next, make the new home feel comfortable.
If your parents have very different rules and lifestyles, you’ll probably have to do your best to get used to the differences. You might even come to enjoy them! But if you feel your needs aren’t being met, say so. Maybe some things can be changed to help make you feel more comfortable.
If one parent has moved far away or you don't get to see one parent very often, you might miss them. Even if you live part of the time with each parent, it's normal to miss the one you're not with. There are lots of things you can do to feel connected. Here are a few suggestions:
Special times like birthdays and holidays can be hard at first. Here are some things you might want to try:
If you feel sad about losing some of your family's traditions, try creating new ones. Each year, try to do new things that you can do again next year and the year after that. Before long, you'll find yourself with a wealth of new traditions.
Your parents might start dating as they begin to get on with their lives. It's normal for some parents who are newly single to enjoy their freedom and see lots of different people. You might feel jealous and want your parent all to yourself. You might feel betrayed, as though it's too soon for him or her to be seeing someone new.
Try not to judge your parents' new friends. And definitely don't try to drive people away. Try to see it from your parent's point of view, and try to figure out why his or her dating bothers you.
Just as you weren't responsible for your parents' splitting up, you aren't responsible for their new relationships.