Your Question
Is there a page for talking about an absent parent to a 14 yr old?
Answer
Hi there, and welcome to Ask Robyn,
Thank you so much for sharing your question with Ask Robyn. One of the most difficult things to explain to a child is the absence of a parent. You are seeking information that offers guidance about having conversations about an absent parent with a child. What you say will depend on their developmental needs, understanding, and readiness.
To help you navigate these conversations, you can refer to resources such as One Family’s guide on explaining an absent parent at onefamily.ie/ 10-ways-to-explain-an-absent- parent/ or their detailed PDF on the same topic (for young children) at nefamily.ie/wp- content/uploads/Level-4- Relationships-Explaining-an- Absent-Parent.pdf.
We have articles in our parenting hub section that you might find helpful at www.ispcc.ie/ parenting-hub/; a previous article outlined how to talk to a young child about an absent parent at www.ispcc.ie/ how-to-talk-to-your-child-4-8- about-an-absent-parent/.
For children and young people dealing with grief and loss following family changes such as parental separation, divorce, and relationship breakdown, the Rainbows Spectrum Programme can be a valuable resource rainbowsireland.ie/. If your child would like to talk to someone, they can call Childline confidentially for free on 1800 66 66 66 or by chat on www.childline.ie.
We understand this is a sensitive and challenging topic. Do not hesitate to seek advice from professionals or support groups. The ISPCC’s Support Line can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone from Monday to Friday, 9 am – 1 pm, on 01 522 4300.
Take care of yourself. We hope you find the above helpful,
Robyn
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