PARIS – “Parenting Through Separation and Divorce” will be the topic of a workshop series offered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Oxford County.

“Kids are typically hit the hardest when couples separate,” said Wendy Legg Pollock, UM Extension educator and workshop leader. “The people they probably love the most have decided that they can no longer live together. Regardless of age – toddlers to teens – children struggle with a lot of feelings such as guilt, fear, anger and sadness, and they typically feel caught in the middle between their parents.”

Pollock said, “This workshop series will help parents better understand the effects of separation or divorce on themselves and their children, and to support their kids during this time of big changes in their lives. Little things that parents do – or don’t do– can make a big difference in how children adjust to the separation.”

The series will focus on: understanding the effects of separation/divorce; helping children with what they need and what they don’t need; moving from conflict to cooperation; and communicating effectively, getting through the anger, jealousy and revenge.

The free, four-part series will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, March 15, 22, 29 and April 5, at the Extension Office, 9 Olson Road, South Paris. Preregistration is required. Call the Extension at 1-800-287-1482 or 743-6329 to register by Friday, March 10. Space is limited.