Stuck in the Middle is about a girl’s journey through her parents’ divorce. It starts with the strain of fighting in the family and how her parents grew apart. She then experiences sharing her time between two homes. Her parents recognize her sadness and try to make things better by taking her to fun places and giving her gifts.
She has many emotions as she processes the changes that have happened in her world. It takes some time, but she learns to cope with the changes and her heart opens to loving new people who are introduced in her family. At the end of the story, her mom meets someone new, and a stepdad is introduced.
The game allows children to reflect on their own stories and the changes they have experienced. Each child will have a unique perspective and experience, and each family has unique dynamics. The game provides an outlet for reflecting on how the family interacts and which struggles they are experiencing.
This story/game combo could be used in individual, group, or family counseling sessions or utilized by families who want their children to process family changes in a healthy way. The story sets the stage and presents the concepts discussed in the game.
This book/game is intended for children who feel the strain of a contentious situation between their parents. Children whose parents get along may not identify with the problems in this resource. Children often feel stuck in the middle during long court battles, when parents are angry and speak poorly of one another, and when the child is expected to communicate on behalf of the adults. This resources is designed to help these children make sense of these situations and to identify ways to cope and communicate boundaries that are needed.
The game cards help children process the differences between the two homes, different parenting styles, communication, and expectations. Children are challenged to find things they like about both homes, as children often will have binary, either or feelings about their parents. They often have one parent they want to be with most and feel out of sorts with the other. This can happen due to feeling guilty for loving their other parent, feeling pressured to choose, or simply because it is an unfamiliar environment. As children feel validated in that it is okay to love both parents, these strong feelings can dissipate.
You can find the book/game here:
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