HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY DIVORCE

Should you stay friends with your ex? Divorce coach Emma

Heptonstall shares her top tips for a happily unmarried ever after:

Be honest from the get-go

Even if you don’t sing from the same hymn sheet, it’s still possible to have different parenting styles and strategies. Just keep negotiations open.

When one of you meets someone else, be upfront about it – it’s not a one-off conversation that never happens again, so share information openly.

Family holidays can still happen. Really

A family trip can be fun, but it needs space – wait for six months or a year after the divorce dust has settled, when you’re both over the emotions and not longing to get back together.

When away, make sure you still spend separate, quality time with the children. Set boundaries, such as Mum and Dad not sharing a room, so your children don’t assume you’re together again.

Get organised

Always have the other in mind, and that means a joint plan of action. Even set aside one day a week for a coffee and chat about childcare, away from the midweek handovers. Public meet-ups are perfect, as neither party will want to risk a meltdown.

Don’t drag your friends into whatever is going on

You don’t have to justify your separation to anyone. You need your friends and family to support you, not judge you, so don’t ask them to take sides; this will help you move through the emotions much quicker.

Be realistic

Even with the best intentions, sometimes it doesn’t always work. If things break down, it’s not necessarily the end – you might just need a little bit of time out, and then you can both try to get on friendly terms again.