Fantasies Are Often More Scary than Reality
Thoughts for the Week:
Almost every child is likely to be touched by divorce.
Even though a child's own family may be together, he or she may know relatives,
friends, or classmates whose families are separated. That can lead to a lot of
wondering.
We have developed the programs for this week to help
children think about divorce and separation in ways that could make the
wondering less frightening. It's especially important that children understand
that when grown-up relationships go wrong, children are not to blame. When
parents do get a divorce, they still go on being their children's mothers and
fathers. And it's also important for children to realize that people who live
together are never happy all the time. When parents quarrel, it does not
necessarily mean they are going to get a divorce.
Children
may have questions this week that they would like to ask caregivers or their
parents. It's not easy to talk about divorce, but we need to keep in mind that
the reality of such hard things is so often less scary to children than the
fantasies they may have about them.
-- Fred Rogers
Summary of the Week:
Since every child is likely to be touched by
divorce in one way or another, children may wonder and even worry about their
own family. Mister Rogers talks openly about children's concerns and
explains that: people who live together aren't happy all the time; when
parents quarrel, it does not necessarily mean they are going to get a
divorce; if a husband and wife get a divorce, they still go on being their
children's father and mother; it is really important for children and parents
to talk with each other about their concerns.
Sometimes children might wish they could get their
divorced parents back together again. Mister Rogers helps them understand that
some things can't be repaired, and he meets with a boy who has a
disability.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Prince Tuesday
meets a new friend whose parents are divorced. Hearing his parents argue,
he fears that they, too, will divorce.
