The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily: A divorce recovery journey for kids with a focus on faith, emotional intelligence and accepting change.

By Natalie Knox

Since the divorce, Liam hates feeling like his life is out of his control. He is angry about giving his dog away and moving house. In fact, he is angry all the time. He often feels down and can't seem to bounce back to his usual upbeat self. He secretly wonders whether the whole divorce wasn't actually his fault. When his father remarries, he fi

• Language: English
• Publisher: Poppy Seed Publishers Limited
• Release date: Mar 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781999349929

Natalie Knox

Natalie Knox het onderwysopleiding en was vroeër ʼn laerskoolonderwyser. Sy het daarna as gemeenskapsberader gewerk met kinders wat in krisis verkeer, wat algemene bystandberading en gespesialiseerde egskeidingsberading ingesluit het. Sy werk deesdae as skrywer en gebruik haar ervaringe as onderwyser en berader om stories te skep wat hartseer kinders sal aanraak. Sy, haar man en drie kinders woon in Suid-Spanje en geniet dit om nuwe plekke te ontdek, lang staptogte aan te pak met hul Spaanse windhond en lekker kos te eet.

Book preview

The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily

The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily

The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily

A divorce recovery journey for kids with a focus on faith, emotional intelligence and accepting change.

Natalie Knox

publisher logo

Poppy Seed Publishers Limited

The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily 

eBook version

by Natalie Knox

Published by Poppy Seed Publishers Limited.

Suite 3 Shrieves Walk

Stratford Upon Avon

CV37 6GJ

The United Kingdom

www.mendingchronicles.com

©2022 Natalie Knox

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this eBook or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. 

For information contact the publisher at [e-mail]

First Edition eBook in 2022

ISBN number: 978-1-9993499-2-9

Disclaimer: This eBook is intended to be a self-help book for children and their families to improve communication. It should not be used to diagnose, advise or treat any emotional problems or mental health issues. Neither should it replace professional counselling or be used as such. If any of the activities or stories raise issues that can’t be dealt with within the family context, it is advised that you seek professional help. The publisher and author are in no way responsible for any damages or consequences caused from reading and engaging with this eBook. This is a work of fiction. The story and its characters are fictional. All likeness to actual persons, either living or dead, is strictly coincidental.

Illustrated by:

Mariaan du Plooy and Sonia Evans

Cover design by:

Doraine Livingston from Doraine Design Studio

Edited by: 

Elaine Young

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. 

All rights reserved worldwide.

Contents

A note to parents

More about this book

One I guess he doesn't love us, because he moved away

Two When anger got trapped inside me

Three I'm afraid my mummy will also leave

Four I feel so very sad

Five Maybe he left because of me

Six I don't want a new daddy

Seven My stepbrother spoils everything

Vocabulary bank

Something extra

About The Author

Other books by Natalie Knox

A note to parents

Children seem to be the ones who lose the most in divorce, but no one intends it to be that way.

The idea of Liam and Emily’s story came to me while I was doing divorce recovery with children in our city. There were a number of available resources for helping adults, and for assisting them to counsel children, but nothing much for the children themselves. With this in mind, I decided to write some stories that children could relate to – something that would touch them in their situation, and bring some sanity and hope to a very sad time in their lives. 

My next wish was to share these stories with other children who face the same predicament, and to offer the same hope to them.

A major realisation I had while working with children in this situation was the number of misconceptions they embraced before, during and after the divorce. I saw how these misconceptions became part of their belief system, which in turn affected how they regarded themselves and others, and how they approached the future. This might result in various fears, low self-esteem, guilt, anger and difficulty in maintaining relationships, possibly even into adulthood.

I was constantly amazed at what these children truly believed about themselves and their situations. In their minds, it made sense at a very confusing and painful time. After the misconceptions had been addressed, we found that they were able to cope better and many negative responses were reduced or eliminated.

Many people turn to spirituality when they go through life’s valleys and divorce is no exception. In my mind, seeking spirituality is looking within ourselves to greater sources to find peace, clarity and equilibrium. For me, my spirituality is my Christian faith, so I have offered it in The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily.

I have found that the Bible provides many relevant truths to address the emotions and possible misconceptions faced by children affected by divorce. I have seen these biblical truths bring help and comfort, anchoring children through the coming years as they adjust to the changes divorce brings. How you choose to use and interpret this spiritual aspect is up to you.

It is my hope that parents can read these stories with their children, and that they can have honest discussions about feelings, each other and their situation. The printable activities are designed to help children work through their thoughts and to become a mirror of what is happening inside.

Because these are such tender matters, my wish would be that parents treat these activities with respect, wisdom and compassion. (It is advisable to keep the pages together and store them in a safe place.) If used well, they can be a great tool in a family’s hands. May you enjoy Liam and Emily’s story as much as my other children did.

There is a short companion parents' guide for The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily.  It offers lots of helpful advice and tips for mums and dads. It covers topics like how to create a safe space for your kids, why emotional intelligence is so important to divorce recovery, how