By Julie Leduc

Separation can be difficult for parents, but it can also be hard on young children. What’s the best way to help them get through this challenging time?

Before breaking the news to their children, parents should take the time to decide together how things are going to work in terms of custody, child support, and so forth. A mediator can help ensure that both sides make informed decisions.

“Research shows that it’s not their parents’ separation that’s traumatic for children, but the way that separation occurs,” says social worker and family mediator Lorraine Filion. The parents’ behaviour has a major influence on how their children react.

Since young children don’t yet have a firm grasp of the concept of time, it’s best not to announce a separation too far in advance. According to Filion, a week or two before one of the parents moves out is fine. Here are a few tips:

• If both parents are up to it, they should break the news together. As difficult as it may be, they should try to keep their emotions in check and be respectful to each other to keep from upsetting their child.
• Use simple terms. For example: “Mommy and Daddy aren’t in love anymore, so we’re going to separate. But we still love you, and we’ll always love you.”
• Explain what’s going to happen. For example: “Daddy will live here, and Mommy will live in another house. Sometimes you’ll live with Mommy, and sometimes you’ll live with Daddy.”
• A few days before the move, remind your child that one parent will be leaving. It’s also a good idea to let kids see where the other parent is moving to.

“Parents should also reassure their children that they will always be there to take care of them,” says psychologist and family mediator Harry Timmermans. “Before the age of 5, children need to know their parents will always be there for them. They need to spend time with them and see them getting along.”

Potential reactions

When you break the news to your child, they may cry and say they don’t want it to happen. They may stay upset for a time after the announcement. Filion suggests consoling them, for example by saying: “I understand that this isn’t what you want. It’s hard for us too, but we think it’s for the best.”

At the beginning of a separation, if it makes things easier for your child, it’s okay to let them call the absent parent every day. “Even if it’s just to say ‘Hi, I love you!’” says Filion. “Hearing the other parent’s voice lets the child know that they haven’t disappeared.”

Separations can also cause children to regress. For instance, some may start wetting the bed again or using baby talk. “This kind of reaction is normal,” says Timmermans. “The child is trying to go back to a time in their life when things were simpler.” It’s a coping mechanism. Some children may also become more aggressive and bad-tempered because they don’t know how to express their emotions.

These behaviours will last as long as it takes the child to adapt to their new family situation. “If one of the parents isn’t doing well, cries a lot, or feels extremely frustrated and angry, the child will have a stronger reaction,” says Filion. “That’s why it’s important for parents to get help.”

Managing the effects of a separation

To limit the negative effects that a separation can have on children, both parents should aim to be in regular contact with their kids and spend quality time with them as much as possible. “When children are young, it’s more important for them to see their parents frequently than for long periods of time,” says Timmermans.

Parents should also try to maintain their children’s routines and do their best to talk to each other calmly and respectfully in front of them. When a parent criticizes or badmouths the other parent in front of their child, the child ends up feeling torn. “Children shouldn’t have to choose between their parents,” says Filion. “They have the right to love them both.”

You should also avoid telling your child that you’ll be lonely or sad when they go to stay with your ex. Instead, tell them you hope they have fun. This will let them know it’s okay to enjoy themself.

By Julie Leduc

How do you stay good parents even after a separation? Parents share their advice.

1. Communicate

“We text regularly to keep each other up to speed on important events in our daughter’s life. For instance, I might send my ex a picture of Sandrine because she just lost her first tooth. During changeovers, we also update each other on different topics. If I need to check something, I do it right away—I don’t let things pile up.”
- Anne-Marie Loiselle, separated for two years, mother of 7-year-old Sandrine

Some parents also keep a kind of custody journal. “A journal is a good idea,” says psychologist and family mediator Harry Timmermans. “But sometimes, when the situation is complex, writing doesn’t cut it.” Ideally, when parents are worried about their child, they should talk about the issue in person.

2. Be respectful when talking about your ex

“My ex-wife left me for someone else. Although I was angry at first, I never badmouthed her. I know how important she is to my kids. My parents separated when I was 11, and they weren’t on good terms. It was super stressful for me, and I didn’t want my kids to go through that. With me, no topics are off-limits. My kids can talk to me about their mother, her boyfriend, and what they do together—they know it won’t bother me.”
- Blaise Bélanger, separated for three years, father of 5-year-old Olivia and 3½-year-old Benjamin

“It’s essential to always be respectful when talking about the other parent,” says Lorraine Filion. “If parents feel hurt or angry, they should talk to a friend, support group, or professional, not their child.” Children should also feel that it’s okay for them to like their parent’s new partner.

3. Ask for help

“We went to family mediation to settle the details of our separation. It allowed us to listen to each other and talk without shouting. But for mediation to work, you have to have good intentions. For us, our children’s well-being was the key. We decided to stay friends for them.”
- Steve Gollain, separated for three years, father of 7-year-old Coralie and 10-year-old Mathys

Family mediation can be very useful in helping parents decide on custody arrangements, clarify their roles after the breakup, and establish their responsibilities. “The sooner you go, the better,” says Timmermans. “It’s easier to come to an agreement when you haven’t let years of tension build up.”

4. Work as a team

“All the money we receive from the government for our children goes into a joint account. We use it to pay for things like child care and school expenses. We go to school meetings together. And if I have to take one of our boys to the emergency room when they’re with me, I leave his brother with their dad. We’re still full-time parents, and we help each other.”
- Catherine Langis, separated for two years, mother of 4-year-old Ludovic and 6-year-old Guillaume

“Parents can also decide in advance who will go to which appointments, such as the doctor, the dentist, or daycare,” says social worker and family mediator Lorraine Filion. “The parent who goes to the appointment, however, should report back to the other one by email or phone.” This is important because decisions sometimes have to be made about medications, treatments, or interventions.

5. Stay in contact without invading the other’s privacy

“FaceTime lets me keep in touch with my daughter when she’s with her dad. If Kelly starts to miss me at bedtime, her dad sends me a text to see if we can video chat, and I always say yes! It takes two seconds, and it reassures my daughter. But we respect each other’s private lives, and we wait for Kelly to ask.”
- Tanya Crépeau, separated for three years, mother of 4½-year-old Kelly

“You and the other parent can agree ahead of time that you’ll call at seven o’clock to say good night, for example,” says Filion. However, make sure your child doesn’t delay bedtime by constantly asking for the other parent. Children can also keep a picture of their parents in both of their bedrooms. Some also bring an article of clothing with them that smells like their mom or dad, like a sweater, to help them get to sleep.

6. Accept that the other parent will do things differently

“At first, my ex-wife was upset that I had less of an eye for fashion. I don’t think it’s important for our daughter to be dressed to the nines. Now, we each have our own set of clothes for Victoria. Even if we don’t do everything the same way, the main thing is that our daughter is healthy and happy to stay with either parent.”
- Marc-André Balmir, separated for two years, father of 3-year-old Victoria

“Parents are two different people even when they live together,” says Harry Timmermans. “Children are better off for their parents’ differences, and they’re capable of adapting to different ways of doing things.”

By Nathalie Vallerand

It may not always be easy to agree on a custody arrangement with your ex, but it’s important to put your differences aside and focus on the needs of your child.

Experts agree that, after a separation, children should continue to see both parents. First, because they love both parents. But also because parents complement each other in terms of what they can teach their child, and because it’s good for the child’s development.

The Divorce Act stipulates that children should have as much contact as possible with each parent. “This principle is very important in court,” says Claudia Prémont, a former family law lawyer who was appointed to the Superior Court of Québec in 2020. “The judge takes it into account when making a decision in a child custody case.”

Access to a mediator

Parents are entitled to five hours of free mediation to agree on child custody and other issues. Social worker and family mediator Lorraine Filion highly recommends taking advantage of it. “During a breakup, emotions take over and it can be hard to talk to each other,” she explains.

A mediator helps parents communicate. “In addition to helping parents determine child custody, mediation can also help them sort out other details, such as who’s going to buy the clothes and who’s going to make the doctor and dentist appointments. What happens if your child is at Mom’s place on Father’s Day? Deciding on the small things in advance can help prevent arguments down the road,” says Filion.

When mediation isn’t enough

If the parents cannot find common ground, a judge will decide their custody arrangement for them. “The judge will base their decision on the child’s best interests,” says Prémont. “She will look at various factors, such as the child’s age, health, relationship with each parent, the parents’ schedules and parenting skills, and so forth, and come up with a custody arrangement based on the child’s particular situation.”

Whether or not a child is breastfed will also affect the judge’s decision. “The judge will take into account that fact that the child is breastfeeding,” says Prémont. “That said, a mother cannot use breastfeeding as a reason to keep the father from seeing his child.”

Prémont notes that some parents insist on putting their interests before those of their child. “It’s a shame, because nothing should come ahead of the child’s well-being.”

Shared or split custody?

Contrary to what many people believe, split custody isn’t limited to the traditional “every other weekend at Dad’s and the rest of the time at Mom’s.” Other options include five days with one parent and two days with the other.

Is either custody arrangement better than the other?

What does research say about how a child’s well-being is affected by the type of custody arrangement? “You can’t generalize, because every family’s situation is different,” says Amandine Baude, who reviewed multiple studies on the subject during her postdoctoral fellowship in psychology at Université Laval, where she is now an associate professor in the school of social work and criminology.

According to Baude, the quality of both the relationship between ex-spouses and their parenting has a greater impact on their children’s well-being than the custody arrangement. “Children need parents who are there for them, who listen to their needs, who shelter them from their conflicts, and who support their relationship with the other parent,” says Baude.

Shared custody is becoming increasingly popular, but is it the best option for young children? It’s hard to say: Studies on young children are rare, and the few that have been done offer contradictory results. Baude still thinks that shared custody can work if a child has developed a strong bond with both parents. “For a long time, people thought babies only formed this kind of bond with their mother. We now know that babies bond with both their mother and their father if both parents take good care of them.”

If shared custody is the chosen arrangement, young children shouldn’t be away from either parent for too long because they have no sense of time and their memory isn’t fully developed. “Before the age of 3, alternating one week at Dad’s and one week at Mom’s is too long,” says Filion. “It’s better to alternate every two or three days.” This allows young children to grow closer to and create a lasting bond with both parents. In the case of split custody, it’s good for the children to see the other parent often, even if only for short periods.

Changing custody arrangements

As time passes, circumstances change, and children start school, custody arrangements can stop making sense. To establish a new custody agreement, parents are entitled to 2.5 hours of free mediation. If the parents are on the same page, the process is fairly simple. If not, they may need a judge to settle the matter for them.

“Amending a custody agreement in court is not easy,” stresses Prémont. There must be a significant change in one of the parents’ situations or in the child’s needs. Proof is also required that the new arrangement is in the child’s best interests—in other words, that it will have a positive effect on them. Things are much simpler when the parents can reach an agreement out of court! 

By Julie Leduc

When it comes to child custody arrangements, there’s no onesizefitsall solution. Every family is different. What’s most important is regularly spending quality time with your child. How that’s done is up to you. Four parents share how they adapted their custody arrangements to suit their families.

Flexible co-parenting

Laurelou Chapleau and her former spouse separated when their daughter was 4 years old. From the beginning, they knew they wanted their daughter to keep seeing both parents as often as possible.

“My ex is self-employed and works from home, and I was a stay-at-home mom when we separated,” says Laurelou. “Our daughter was used to being around both her parents every day. We hated the thought of her going even a day without seeing both of us.”

At first, they tried a one-day-on, one-day-off shared custody arrangement to limit the impact of the separation. “It wasn’t a good idea,” she admits. “Our daughter was constantly bouncing from one apartment to another, we were always in a hurry, and she was getting tired. After a few weeks, something had to give.”

Two days on, two days off

In the end, the parents agreed to trade off custody of their daughter every two days. “It works for us,” says Laurelou. “We can both spend quality time with our daughter without giving her a chance to miss the other parent. It helps that we live close to each other.”

Since both parents are self-employed, they can easily tweak their schedules on the days they each have their daughter. And flexibility is key. “We only plan our schedule a month in advance,” says Laurelou. “Our custody days depend on our contracts.”

To simplify matters, their daughter never has to pack a suitcase. She keeps clothes and toys at both her parents’ homes. “Things get mixed up sometimes, but we don’t make a big deal out of it,” says Laurelou. “It’s all her stuff in the end. She can take it wherever she wants.” The parents also try to be accommodating of each other. “If there’s a birthday in my family while my daughter’s supposed to be with her dad, he’ll let her stay with me. We just want her to be happy,” adds Laurelou. “She was born into a two-parent household, and she thought she would spend her life with both of us. She didn’t have a say in us separating. We’re not a couple anymore, but the three of us are still a family, even though we don’t all live together.”

2-2-3 or 5-2-2-5?

Not seeing his little boy for a week is out of the question for Vincent Desgagné. Fortunately, he and his ex have found a custody arrangement that prevents long separations.

When Vincent separated from his partner, their son was 2½ years old. “His mom and I thought that if we had him on alternating weeks, he would end up missing the other parent too much, and vice versa. That’s why we went with the 2-2-3 arrangement at first.”

Under this custody arrangement, one week, the child was with his mom on Monday and Tuesday, with his father on Wednesday and Thursday, then back with his mother on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The next week, the parents would switch days.

“After a few months, we realized that it was a lot of back and forth in a short period of time for a toddler,” explains Vincent. “Plus, it was hard to get our son into a routine in just two or three days.”

Easier for their routines

So the parents switched to a 5-2-2-5 arrangement. “This way, we have the stability and repetition we wanted in the first place,” says Vincent. Every Monday and Tuesday, Vincent’s son is with his mom, then he spends every Wednesday and Thursday with his dad. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the parents alternate: Their son spends one weekend with his mom and the next with his dad.

“This way, I can schedule regular activities with my son. For example, I signed him up for a karate class on Wednesdays,” explains Vincent. “I don’t need to check with his mom first. It’s our time together. I always go with him.” Spending five days in a row with his son also makes it easier to get into a routine. “I think it also helps give him some structure,” says Vincent. “He’s starting to understand that, say, on Mondays and Tuesdays he’s with mom, and every Wednesday, he goes to karate with Dad. And that’s reassuring for him.”

Vincent says that another big reason his son is adjusting well is that he maintains good communication with his ex. “No matter what type of custody arrangement you have, you have to talk to each other to make it work,” he says.

Sharing the family home

When Julie ended her relationship, she chose to share the family home with her former partner. It’s a decision that some people were skeptical of, but she’s never regretted it.

Her daughter was 3 at the time of the separation. “We were living in Quebec City; I wanted to stay there, while my ex went back to Montreal,” explains Julie. The parents weighed their options. They could sell the family home, get an apartment in Quebec City for the father, have their child go back and forth between the two cities ...

“We decided to keep the house in Quebec City for the sake of our daughter,” says Julie. “There would be fewer changes for her, and she could stay in her home. We didn’t want her life to be split between two cities, and we didn’t want her feeling homesick and tired all the time because of all the travel. So I live in Quebec City with her, and her father comes to visit every two weeks.”

Because her ex can’t afford two apartments—one in Montreal and one in Quebec City—Julie is okay with him staying in the family home when he comes to see his daughter on the weekends. “It’s the best solution that we’ve found to make our separation livable for our daughter,” she says. “At first, I stayed in the house while he was here, but I made myself scarce to give them some space. As time went on, I started leaving so they could have the whole house to themselves, but we worked up to it.”

Communication is key

Julie explains that this arrangement works for them because she and her ex have stayed on good terms. “Plus, we put our love lives on hold for a while for the sake of our daughter,” she says. “When we each started dating again after two years, our partners were understanding and respected our agreement. We also kept our partners out of the family home.”

Today, their daughter is 14 years old, and they’ve kept up the arrangement. “I have friends who can’t believe I’m still letting my ex stay in the house,” says Julie. “But I don’t listen to them. I’m so proud that our daughter is doing well. It’s worth every sacrifice!”

Adapting to an atypical schedule

It can be challenging to make joint custody arrangements when you work in health care and have nonstandard hours. However, Caroline Chartrand makes every effort to keep things stable for her daughter.

Caroline separated from her partner when their daughter was 18 months old. She juggles a variable schedule. “I work every other weekend, and during the week, my workdays tend to vary.” She and her ex have chosen a 2-2-3 custody arrangement. They each spend two weekdays with their daughter and alternate weekends. “On weekends when I’m working, my daughter stays with her father,” says Caroline. “I have her on Monday and Tuesday one week, then Wednesday and Thursday the next week. I arrange my weekday schedule around the days she’s with me.”

Thanks to this agreement, her daughter gets to see both parents regularly, and Caroline knows just how important that is for her daughter. “Sometimes we have no choice; because of our work commitments, we have to change our schedule a little,” she says. “But I know that my daughter, who’s 3 now, doesn’t like it. It’s important for her to know where she’s going and what to expect. Also, when she spends more than three days with the same parent, she starts missing the other one. So, despite my odd schedule, we try to make as few changes as possible.”

Putting your child first

Caroline remembers how hard it was after her parents separated. “I had always promised myself that I would do everything to protect my child if I ever went through a separation.” That’s why she’s making an effort to stay on good terms with her ex. She doesn’t speak ill of him, and she makes sure her daughter spends an equal amount of time with both parents.

Her ex lives in the same neighbourhood as her, which helps. “She’s gotten sick before while she was with me, and her dad was the one who went to the pharmacy to get her medicine,” says Caroline. “Then he came over to give me a breather. We support each other as parents—it’s in her best interest.”

Learn more about different custody arrangements

Department of Justice Canada
“Making plans: A guide to parenting arrangements after separation or divorce.” 2022. justice.gc.ca

Ministère de la Justice du Québec

“Child custody: Choosing your parenting schedule.” juridiqc.gouv.qc.ca

By Nathalie Vallerand

No matter the custody arrangement, your child’s day-to-day life will change. Here are some suggestions on how to make the transition easier.

• Encourage the relationship between your child and their other parent. In the early stages of a breakup, it’s normal to hold a grudge or not want to see your ex. But nothing has changed for your child, and they need to see both their parents on a regular basis. “That’s why decisions that concern your child should be made based on their needs and not to spite your ex,” says Francyne Tessier, a psychotherapist. For instance, if your child is missing their other parent, feel free to let them call.
• Remind your child of what’s going to happen. Reassure them by giving them concrete information using words they can understand. For example: “Tomorrow, you’re staying at Mom’s. You’ll get to sleep in your new bed!”
• Try to create a positive atmosphere when switching from one home to the other. When changeovers go badly and parents argue, the child can end up feeling responsible for the separation. “When that happens, it’s better to make the changeovers in a neutral location,” suggests researcher Amandine Baude. For instance, one parent can drop the child off at daycare in the morning, and the other can pick them up at the end of the day.
• Set up similar routines. Routines provide young children with stability and security, so you should try to maintain them as much as possible. “Parents should agree on the broad strokes, without being inflexible,” advises social worker and family mediator Lorraine Filion. “So long as your child’s needs are met, you have to accept that the other person does certain things a different way.”
  
  For parents in conflict, one side’s demands can also be perceived as a form of interference or control. This can increase tensions between them and worsen an already difficult relationship. Seeing a psychotherapist together can help co-parents ease tensions, encourage constructive communication, and resolve differences.
• Resist the temptation to interrogate your child. What did you do on the weekend? What did you eat? Did anyone come over? “It’s not a good idea to ask your child a lot of questions to find out what they did with their other parent,” says Francyne Tessier. “It might stress them out, especially if they feel like what they say upsets you.” However, if your child comes home sad, upset, or agitated, it’s important to help them understand why they feel this way. Working with the other parent can help improve the situation in the child’s best interests.
• Reassure your child during changeovers. If your little one has a favourite blankie or stuffed animal, be sure to pop it in their backpack when they’re switching homes. “You can tell them you put a lot of hugs in their stuffy,” says Tessier. “That way, the stuffed animal can give your child a hug for you when they’re at their other house.” Showing and telling your child that you love them can make changeovers easier.

Source:Naître et grandir magazine, November 2018 Research and copywriting: Julie Leduc, Nathalie Vallerand Scientific review: Dr. François St Père, psychologist and family mediator Updated: July 2024

Photos: GettyImages/eclipse_images, Nicolas St-Germain, GettyImages/dariazu, Maxim Morin, GettyImages/Lenorlux, FatCamera and zeljko santrac, GettyImages/vasyl_dolmatov