ABSTRACT
Much attention has been focused on risk and resiliency factors that children experience as a result of parental separation and divorce. While this information is helpful to separating parents and family justice professionals who may be assisting these families, little attention is given to the real-world experiences of the individual child and the impact it has on their lives. This chapter examines the perspective from a 12-year old girl and her experiences of loss during family breakdown. Issues that are highlighted focus on her feelings of loss of innocence, loss of important parental and other family relationships, the impact of having her views and preferences heard, and the struggles that she experiences during her parents’ dispute about her parenting arrangements. The chapter concludes with a need for a multidisciplinary approach to family justice that includes hearing and working with parents, children, mental health professionals, lawyers, judges, and policy makers to reform family justice so that children’s best interests can really be met.
