Separation, divorce or blended family… So many stages in a couple's life which can be complicated for children to navigate.
“We often say that they adapt but we forget at what cost,” notes Nathalie Rubio, family mediator within the Departmental Union of Family Associations of Oise (Udaf).
During the workshops that this professional leads, she has sometimes observed people struggling with conflicts of loyalty.
“They can be torn between their father and their mother, which generates a lot of suffering, of which the parents are not always aware,” she continues.
“I have a mother who told me that when her son comes back from time with his dad, he always needs a moment alone, he needs to readjust,” adds Valérie Dumouchy, also a family mediator within the 'Udaf.
It's tiring for them, especially since they have fewer resources than us adults.
They are still under construction.
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A space to speak “in complete freedom”
Faced with this observation, Udaf therefore decided to launch collective workshops, called Pep's, intended for children aged 6 to 11, who live in a context of family separation.
“The idea is that they realize that they are not alone in what they are experiencing and that they can have a space of their own, where they can express themselves in complete freedom and confidentiality” , specifies Nathalie Rubio.
Succeeding in putting words to an experience, an emotion, sharing your questions with others, asking questions or even building new benchmarks, so many challenges that this support aims to respond to.
“We felt that there was a real need to talk, without the parents being present because they may be afraid of hurting or causing pain.
This could be the time for them to take stock of their situation,” says Valérie Dumouchy.
Two first sessions of four workshops each are organized in Beauvais, from April 22 to 26.
They are open for registration.
For more information, by telephone at 06.30.80.53.92 or by email at:espacefamilleparentalité@udaf60.fr