May Newsletter - child development, child discipline, children education, children needs, children self-worth, children socialization, coparenting, coparent, coparents, custody, divorce, divorce agreement, marriage therapy, divorce therapy, nonadversarial, parent plan, parent plans, parent conflict, parenting plan, parent skills, renegotiation, separation, single parent, single parents, visitation, collaborative, child academic or psychological difficulties

Healing Hearts

Children of Seperation and Divorce Center, Inc. / Columbia: 410-740-9553

Kids of COSD Start Own Newsletter!!!

The kids at the Children of Separation and Divorce Center are starting up a newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to support kids of separation and divorce with our words, thoughts, poems and artwork. We are very excited about our first issue.

In this issue, you will find a letter from Risa Garon, the Executive Director of the Center, some articles from peer counselors, and pictures, poems,

and artwork from kids at our center. We welcome your input! Please send us your questions, comments, artwork, poetry, and articles. You can send them to the attention of Kara Collins or Rachel Thompson, peer counselors at the center. Our address and phone number are at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

Welcome From Our Executive Director

Welcome to the Peer Counselor Newsletter for students!!
Our peer counselor program is one my most favorite programs at our center. The students we train to become peer counselors at COSD CARE, CONNECT and are COMMITED to reaching out to others in many different ways.
This on line newsletter for students is written by peer counselors with the hope of reaching out to as many students as possible. Going through a family change is difficult. You can get through it and we have confidence that you will. However, it is much

easier to “survive” a difficult time when you can get support from others who have been through a family change, read about what others do to feel better and solve problems.
We would like you to be part of our newsletter: write an article, draw a picture, write a poem, ask questions and let your friends know about the newsletter.
Some of you may want to become peer counselors. For more information, please call me at 410 740 9553. We believe in you and are thrilled to give you a voice!!!!
Best wishes,
Risa Garon

Healing Hearts/ Volume 1, Issue 1 / Page 2 of 3

Lora Cushman, Risa Garon, and Peer Counselors Kara Collins and Rachel Thompson at a COSD Family Resiliency Celebration at Border’s Book Store

Being a Peer Counselor at COSD is a wonderful opportunity to help other kids. Like all of you, a peer counselor is a child of a divorced or separated family. We have experienced many of the emotions and feelings that other kids out there are experiencing.

As we all know sometimes it is not easy talking to our parents or even to our friends. So, Peer Counselors are here for you to talk about anything that is on your mind, whether it is divorce, school, family, or friends. Peer Counselors can help you to solve your problems in a healthy, productive way. By using our own personal experiences and knowledge, we can think of ways to solve your problem together.

At COSD, we have peer counselors of all ages, so no matter how old you are. We are always here to lend a helping hand.

Is it My Fault?

I worry a lot that it is my fault that my parents got a divorce. I wasn’t always the easiest kid to live with . I used to get in trouble in school and I would hear them fighting about it. My parents tell me that it wasn’t my fault, but I hear them fighting about me now more than ever!

-S.P., Columbia, MD

Dear S.P.,

You have asked a very important question. We hear this from kids

a lot. Here is the answer. Is is never, ever a kids fault that their parents divorce. Parents decide to divorce for many different reasons. Sometimes they have terrible fights, sometimes they are very unhappy with the other person, and sometimes one person hurts the other by hitting them or abusing drugs or alcohol. Whatever the reason, parents who decide to get a divorce may sometimes fight about their kids, but it is not why they divorce.

The Separation Apparition
By Orrie Ganel
Hope; a ray of light.
To ease the blight,
Salvation from the darkness
You don’t have to be fearless

The darkness just brings out the light;
But still, it doesn’t help to fight.
A darker wound brings stronger salvation.
Don’t die the death of isolation

Families are based on love,
So just remember turtledoves
Your family will still exist
Even with this little twist.

Love will be there anyway,
Even if no one will say.
So don’t blame yourself for any thing,
The love is there if not the ring.

“Drawing, writing, dancing, painting, all are ways which kids can express their feelings.”

“Night”, By Cindy Gonzalez, Patuxent Middle School
Why not be afraid of the night?
Is it not scary?
Is it not terribly scary?
When dark comes out and steals your dreams and returns nothing but nightmares?
Should we not be afraid of complete loneliness and only the companion of whistling sounds?
Should we feel protected when shadows come out from the walls?
Should we believe it is only our imagination?
No.
Believe what you want.
Be afraid of the night.

Upcoming Events for Kids and Families

• Peer Counselor celebration on May 31, 2001 from 5:30 – 7:30**

• Kidshare, June 7, 2001**

** Call the center for more information