HOW TO GET IT TOGETHER WHEN YOUR PARENTS ARE COMING APART

You are not the cause. . . . It's no use blaming yourself. . . ."" Richards and Willis don't pass up a chance to reassure kids who feel guilty about their parents' breakup--and to help them face the fact that nothing they can do is likely to change the situation. Once they've faced their own feelings (chiefly, abandonment) and recognized their parents', what they can do is protect themselves: refusing to spy or tattle, showing that ""you"" are different by telling them calmly how you feel about their fights, finding outside interests and friends (perhaps another kid with the same problem) to keep ""you"" away from the unpleasantness, talking with a minister, counselor, youth group or, if necessary, a therapist. Sensibly, naturally, and with understanding, then, the authors guide kids through all the stages: parental open warfare, silent battles and problem behavior; separation and divorce with its issues of custody, support and visitation; and the aftermath of parental dating and remarriage, even the possibility of sexual assault or seduction by Mom's (or Dad's) boyfriend. To see it all described so accurately is comfort itself, to glean a few survival tips could help in getting it together.