For The Sake Of The Kids

JUST like Eskom’s power grid, some relationships aren’t built to last, but just because you’re not together doesn’t mean you can’t still bring up your children together!

- Vanessa Papas

WE all thought they’d last forever but Tinsel Town isn’t a heart-break free zone. And while divorce is never easy, with kids in the mix it can turn into a messy slug fight – just ask Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Their tumultuous custody battle has caused endless problems with their six children. Brad, 54, is not on good terms with sons Maddox, 17, and Pax, 15, and even went so far as saying that he now has no choice but to accept he’ll likely never be able to repair their relationship. It takes a conscious decision made on both sides to put your children first and work out an amicable relationship when things fall apart.

While co-parenting means sharing parenting responsibilities with an ex-spouse living in a separate household, it’s so much more than that. Co-parenting peacefully increases children’s sense of security and reduces stress. Young kids especially tend to think that a divorce is their fault, and seeing love, respect and safety helps them make the transition to a new way of life and also helps them acquire the life skills they’ll need as adults. While not an easy thing to do, peaceful co-parenting following a break-up is not impossible, as these Hollywood powerhouses have proven.

Tom Sturridge & Sienna Miller