Helping your children to cope post-separation

The Parents Plus Parenting When Separated programme offers important tips for helping children to cope when the relationship between their parents breaks down and there is a separation. If you are finding parenting challenging because you are going through or have gone through a separation you can talk to one of the Family Support Workers on the team at the Donegal Parent Support line who have experience running the Parenting When Separated programme. Freephone 1800 112277 Monday – Friday 9am to 3pm or PM the Parent Hub Donegal Facebook page with your name, number and brief description of the issue you would like support with and one of the team will be in touch.

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Online Family Support Group tonight with LYFS

LYFS, the Letterkenny Youth and Family Support Service is running an online support group for families. The next meeting happens TONIGHT Monday 20 April at 8:30pm. You can find the link below to get into the meeting. It is recommended that you just use your audio and not your video for these meetings.
Families are all facing many challenge these days but are managing to find positives in the experience of lockdown too. These include
  • Family Meals- All preparing and eating together
  • More interaction between family members including teenagers
  • Having time to reflect on what is important in life (for parents)
  • Getting to know children better- their interests, friends and hobbies
  • Happy to be at home with children
  • Less stress (No rushing around, less pressure externally to get things done)
  • Having more energy to enjoy time spent with children
  • Teaching children new life skills- cooking, cleaning, tying shoes etc.
  • Being thankful and grateful for having family
  • Opportunity to explain to siblings about additional needs within family
But of course there are the challenges and these can include:
  • Keeping routines- waking up and going to bed
  • Monitoring social media/screen time- children need to connect with their friends but not at 3am!
  • Co-parenting- Social Distancing and Cocooning
  • Education- Home schooling and those getting ready for Leaving Cert.
  • Parenting alone and shopping- lack of support network
The positives and the challenges are so familiar to many of us. If you could do with the support of a group and the opportunity to talk to other parents then why not get involved tonight?
Next meeting-
Monday 20th April (tonight)@ 8.30pm via Zoom
Meeting ID: 832 862 344​
Password: 022222​
LYFS can be contacted on 0861237917 / lyfs@live.ie. / facebook-Lyfscommunity project (Private Message)for anyone who requires support to join the group, or for any parenting support needs.

Parenting When Separated – parenting programmes starting in Letterkenny

ParentStop will be running two Parenting When Separated programmes in Letterkenny starting on 3rd October. The programmes will run in ParentStop, Riverfront House, Pearse Road, Letterkenny, one in the morning, one in the evening.

Family separation can put extra stress on both parents and children and brings new challenges. Drawing on international long-term evidence, the Parenting when Separated Programme is a six week course that highlights practical steps parents can take to help their children cope and thrive as well as coping successfully themselves.

Topics include:

  • Solving co-parenting problems in a positive ways that focus on the needs of the children
  • Cope with the emotional impact of separation and learn stress management techniques
  • Help your children cope with the impact of the separation both emotionally and practically
  • Enhance communication with your children and with your children’s other parent.

The morning programme will run from 10.30 – 12.30 starting on Tuesday 3rd October and finishing on Tuesday 14th November with no session during the children’s half term.

The evening programme will run from 7-9pm starting on Tuesday 3rd October and finishing on Tuesday 14th November, with no session during the children’s half term.

To book a place phone ParentStop on 074 9177249 or 0868863674 or email gertrudehouton@parentstop.ie