Today I’ve interviewed Renee Smith Ettline about her book ‘Children Coping with Your Divorce?: What Parents Can Do to Help’, where she gives parents concise, actionable wisdom on how to support their children through a divorce from both her personal and professional experiences as a counselor and educator.
How did the idea for your book begin?
The idea for my book started by leading divorce support groups and working with people over the years both in person and through my online Facebook peer support group, the Separation & Divorce Christian Community. I’ve witnessed the multitude of challenges that people face when it comes to parenting children of divorce.
Divorce hurts children. Even the most well-intended parents are often so tied up in their own emotions and the realities of divorce that they miss key ways they can help their children adjust to and thrive after divorce.
So the book started with the needs of people.
Did you have to do any research to when you were writing this book?
Yes. I conducted a survey of individuals I work with to determine the issues they face as parents of children of divorce. I wanted to hit on the real-life topics that would meet reader needs.
It seems that your occupation as a counselor and educator has really driven you to write this book. What are you trying to achieve through your writing?
Most of my career has involved teaching life skills. I have a great desire, and I believe calling, to help people improve their lives.
It is also why I started After Divorce Ministries, LLC and wrote my first book, “Peace after Divorce.” By the way, “Peace after Divorce” has been recognized as an exemplary Christian self-help book by the Illumination Book Awards.
Congratulations on the success of your book ‘Peace After Divorce’. I hope that you can make a similar impact and success with ‘Children Coping With Divorce’. Both of your books have dealt with supporting people through the transition of divorce. What has been the underlying driving theme for your books that you are trying to communicate to your readers?
The basic theme underlying all my self-help writing is that we have the power to make choices that make our lives better. We can’t control all of the circumstances of our lives, but we can influence our outcomes by the choices we make.
What did you find the most rewarding thing about writing this book? The reward comes when people tell me that the book helped them to better deal with the issues they face. I’m getting positive feedback and the reviews are great.
You have a strong passion for helping others. Do you have any philosophies that you live by?
As a Christian, I believe in framing everything in love, patience, and grace.
How about quotes, What is your favourite quote?
There are two:
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” -Winston Churchill
I think that those are great quotes and philosophies to live by. On a bit of a tangent, I would love to know what you are currently reading and your favourite authors?
“Don’t Call it Love: Breaking the Cycle of Relationship Dependency” by Gregory Jantz and Tim Clinton. It’s a good book.
My favourite authors are Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, Henry Cloud and John Townsend are among my favorites. They write easy-to-read books with real-life help and inspiration.
Renee, Thanks for making your time available to conduct this interview, and I hope that you are able to help many more families through your work.
Want to find out more about Renee? Contact her at the following locations: