Divorce and Separation

Parenting | Are Your Kids Walking on Eggshells? Co-Parenting Without Emotional Damage

7 snips
Feb 11, 2026
Jamie Maserow, psychologist and author of The Therapist in Therapy, shares expertise on resilience and family connection. Short conversations explore how children people-please and silently manage parental conflict. Practical topics include creating emotional safety, grounding techniques before handovers, age-appropriate talks with young children, and easing jealousy around new partners.
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INSIGHT

Kids Learn Love Equals People Pleasing

  • Children often learn that love means keeping everyone else comfortable during parental separation.
  • Nikki and Jamie highlight that this hidden emotional labour shows up as people-pleasing and walking on eggshells in kids.
ADVICE

Keep Adult Conversations With Adults Only

  • Leave children out of adult separation conversations and keep adult issues with adults only.
  • Remind yourself the other parent is still the child's mum or dad and model respectful talk and behaviour.
INSIGHT

Body Language Matters At Changeovers

  • Nonverbal cues during changeovers convey more than words and can unintentionally upset children.
  • Jamie points out body language, posture and the way parents 'front up' at handovers influence kids' emotional safety.
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