Kate Scharff, MSW

04/24/2026

Thanks to friend and colleague, family lawyer, and child advocate extraordinaire .rosan for including me in her article about important issues separated/divorced parents should consider when planning their children’s time. While this post centered around the holiday season, the tips given are evergreen and can apply to all seasons of parenting after separation/divorce.

A few highlights from the piece:

- Special occasions don’t have to happen on the “exact” day. What matters is the quality of the time you spend together, not the date on the calendar.
- Before calling your child when they’re with the other parent, ask yourself: “Is this for me or is this for them?”
- Parenting plans should evolve as your family does — what works for a preschooler may not work for a teenager. A detailed agreement is your safety net, not a rigid rulebook.

These are ideas and tips every co-parenting family can use.

Link 🔗 to the full article in bio.

02/13/2026

Being single on Valentine’s Day can leave you feeling blue, here are a few tips to help get you through. Part 2 of 2

A retake on a video I did two years ago. Be kind to yourself this holiday!

02/13/2026

Being single on Valentine’s Day can leave you feeling blue, here are a few tips to help get you through. Part 1 of 2.

A retake on a video I did two years ago. Be kind to yourself this holiday!

01/23/2026

Disparaging your Ex: The Real Reason It Hurts Your Kids

For more of my thoughts on this and other issues faced by children of divorce, along with advice for you on how to minimize the pain for your kids, check out my latest book “We Need to Talk About Divorce” (for children 10 and up and their parents). Great for them to read alone and for you to read with them as a springboard for conversations.

Available at the 🔗 in bio!

Have other questions about navigating separation and divorce with or without children? Comment them below and I’ll answer them in a future post.

01/17/2026

You’ve decided to split, but you’re still living together. You’re no longer a couple, but you’re not yet independent. Lots of couples find themselves in this position, and it can be tough on everyone —sometimes in surprising ways.
For advice on navigating this difficult phase, read my Huffington Post article,

‘Separated Under the Same Roof: Tips for Surviving the Limbo Phase.’

Find it at the HuffPost 🔗 in my bio

If you’re a divorcing parent of a tween or teen, check out my new book for children 10 and up and their parents: ‘We Need to Talk About Divorce.’ This book tackles hard topics and provides tips for navigating separation and divorce with children.

01/07/2026

Living in Two Homes After Divorce: a tip for helping your child adjust

You can read more about this topic and many other tips, along with lots of advice on how to support your child through your separation and divorce, in my new book, “We Need to Talk About Divorce,” for children ages 9 and up and their divorcing parents.

12/23/2025

Honored that my new book for middle schoolers, "We Need to Talk About Divorce," tops this terrific list from this highly respected source. Check out all the great books featured on this list at the link below!

The books below help young readers understand divorce, name their feelings, and trust that love and connection remain constant.

12/15/2025

‘“Because We Both Love You” — New Year’s Resolutions for Divorced Parents’ article can be found at the HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/new-years-resolutions-for_b_4505703

I wrote this for the Huffington Post several years ago. I was so bowled over by the thousands of emails I received from grateful parents and divorce professionals that posting it has become a New Year tradition. What children of divorce want their parents to know never changes. I hope this article will help you and your coparent work together a little better this year. Sending my loving support for 2026.
Kate

12/05/2025

Navigating Winter Break and the December Holidays After Divorce: Pt. 4 - Be Kid-Centric

If you’d like more guidance on helping children manage the holidays — and all the changes that come with living in two homes — you’ll find practical tools, honest language, and emotional support in my book: ‘We Need to Talk About Divorce: An Important Book About Separation, Step-Families, and Feeling Heard.’ It’s written for middle school children and their parents, and offers ways to talk openly, lower anxiety, and strengthen connection — even through big transitions. Available at https://tr.ee/HWKMxD

Have other questions about navigating separation and divorce with or without children? Comment them below and I’ll answer them in a future post.

12/04/2025

Navigating Winter Break and the December Holidays After Divorce: Pt. 3 - Don’t Split the Day

If you’d like more guidance on helping children manage the holidays — and all the changes that come with living in two homes — you’ll find practical tools, honest language, and emotional support in my book: ‘We Need to Talk About Divorce: An Important Book About Separation, Step-Families, and Feeling Heard.’ It’s written for middle school children and their parents, and offers ways to talk openly, lower anxiety, and strengthen connection — even through big transitions. Available at https://tr.ee/HWKMxD

Have other questions about navigating separation and divorce with or without children? Comment them below and I’ll answer them in a future post.

12/01/2025

Navigating Winter Break and the December Holidays After Divorce: Pt. 2 - Ways to Divide the Break

If you’d like more guidance on helping children manage the holidays — and all the changes that come with living in two homes — you’ll find practical tools, honest language, and emotional support in my book: ‘We Need to Talk About Divorce: An Important Book About Separation, Step-Families, and Feeling Heard.’ It’s written for middle school children and their parents, and offers ways to talk openly, lower anxiety, and strengthen connection — even through big transitions. Available at https://tr.ee/HWKMxD

Have other questions about navigating separation and divorce with or without children? Comment them below and I’ll answer them in a future post.