Comment on changeovers, choices, and challenges—Understanding children's between-home transitions after parental separation

Abstract

This Comment on the three articles in this Special Feature offers some key insights from this interesting line of inquiry on children's transitions between homes after parental separation. Anecdotal evidence abounds on stories of where children are caught in the crossfire of their parents’ conflict during transitions. Yet empirical data are sparse, and the issue of children's transitions between homes appears to have attracted little detailed discussion by family law and mental health professionals, especially in the crafting of parenting plans. So often what seems to occur in the margins of post-separation family life can shed light on the inner dynamics of family relationships and the inner worlds of children. The articles in this Special Feature have changed much of my thinking about this little discussed but important aspect of children's lives. The ideas are both conceptually intriguing and practically inviting for those of us who support children and young people after parental separation.