Adjusting to life post-divorce often leaves individuals feeling disoriented and uncertain about their future direction. It’s a period marked by significant shifts, not just in your personal life but also within the dynamics of your family. As the saying goes, “We are family!” regardless of its new configuration or geographic spread. This might be the moment to mend bridges with relatives, reaffirming bonds that may have frayed during the turbulence of separation. Reaching out, even with a simple phone call, can reignite connections and provide much-needed support.For those with children, nurturing their relationships with extended family members on both sides is crucial. Despite past tensions, a calmer phase post-divorce offers a chance to prioritize the well-being of the children. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins play an integral role in a child’s identity and emotional support network. If estrangement has occurred, now might be the opportune time to foster communication and reconciliation, focusing on what’s best for the child’s emotional and psychological health.This period of transition also opens up possibilities for new relationships, which come with their own set of challenges and opportunities for growth. Jill Curtis, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, offers insights into navigating these new waters, especially for stepchildren adapting to blended family structures. The encounter with a parent’s new partner can be daunting, filled with mixed emotions and uncertainties. Curtis emphasizes the importance of giving children and stepchildren the time and space to adjust, to form their own opinions, and to navigate their feelings towards new family members at their own pace.In essence, moving forward after a divorce involves not just rebuilding one’s individual life but also redefining family connections and opening up to new relationship dynamics. It’s about finding a balance between honoring past bonds and embracing future possibilities with openness and resilience.