Divorce and Stepfamilies: Breaking Apart, Coming Together

Although the widely touted statistic that half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce has been questioned (it seems a bit unfair that Britney Spears' overnighter and a couple celebrating their silver anniversary carry equal weight), it's certainly not uncommon for a teenager to be wrestling with the implications of his or her own parents splitting up. Divorce can have serious emotional, social, and academic consequences for a child, making support and understanding a crucial aspect of the healing process, a point that is emphasized in this solid episode from the PBS-aired series In the Mix. During the first half, viewers are introduced to a support group for teenagers operating under the guidance of an adult counselor, as well as a program in which teens who have experienced divorce in the family serve as mentors for 4th-6th graders currently coping with their parents' separation. The second half looks at the challenge of blended families created through remarriage, and features a roundtable interview with a large stepfamily that is also interracial. A good discussion starter on a perennial issue that is often both scary and confusing, this is recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)