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# Two Wishes

Transforming family separation & divorce

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://twowishes.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Family attachment 800 years ago](https://twowishes.org/family-attachment-800-years-ago/) - Eight centuries apart, St Thomas Aquinas and Dr John Bowlby define the love and attachment of family bonds in very similar ways.
- [What a Commissioner does for separated families](https://twowishes.org/what-a-commissioner-does-for-separated-families/) - A UK report on Putting Children First calls for a Commissioner for Separated Families and an actual Commissioner shows the way.
- [Global charter for more family-based childcare](https://twowishes.org/global-charter-for-more-family-based-childcare/) - A UK visit to Sri Lanka shows how a global charter for better children's care is put into practice.
- [Helping both parents share more child care](https://twowishes.org/helping-both-parents-share-more-child-care/) - A UK campaign calls for ways that both parents can create healthier family lives for their children and themselves.
- [Top judge confirms that courts harm children](https://twowishes.org/top-judge-confirms-that-courts-harm-children/) - 24 July 2022: The UK's top judge uses blunt words as he confirms that courts harm children of separating parents. He says that family law should be "the last resort" not "the first port of call". These are family relationship problems not legal matters. Talking on the BBC and widely reported, Sir Andrew McFarlane, President
- [A double first: amicable's advert and AI](https://twowishes.org/a-double-first-amicables-advert-and-ai/) - 5 Jan 2026: Late last year amicable ran a UK first-in-the-field national TV advert. It adds to a new culture of how we think about family separation. Now, working with Your Direction, amicable have launched Split Happens, the first use of AI to offer a safe digital platform to support young people when their family
- [OnePlusOne and the wind of change](https://twowishes.org/oneplusone-and-the-wind-of-change/) - After 55 years OnePlusOne still flies the flag for early support for separating families and reports that the wind is changing too.
- [How to build services for families](https://twowishes.org/how-to-build-services-for-families/) - For leaders responsible for strategic development of services for families, here is a packed powerpoint of how to do it. It is full of neatly presented thinking with links to myriad resources and examples of best practice. Set up in the UK, there is inspiration here for anyone charged with this important universal task: developing
- [Conflict is good for us!](https://twowishes.org/conflict-is-good-for-us/) - University of Massachusetts Professor Ed Tronick pioneered some of the most revealing studies of babies in the 20th century. In his 2020 book The Power of Discord, co-authored with paediatrician Claudia Gold, PhD, Professor Tronick goes on to explain how conflict or disharmony is not only OK, but crucial for us all as we grow
- [The science that family court judges need to know!](https://twowishes.org/science-101/)
- [New initiative helps schools support vulnerable children](https://twowishes.org/new-initiative-helps-schools-support-vulnerable-children/) - A new initiative to help schools support children in separating families will be launched today at the Houses of Parliament, London, UK
- [What science tells us](https://twowishes.org/what-science-tells-us/) - What does the latest, best scientific evidence tell us about what's best for children? In few, if any, parts of the world is our approach to family breakdown, or to dealing with families in crisis, based on actual scientific evidence of what’s best for children and families. Too often, we impose too-late ‘interventions’ instead of
- [Good news must be in the news](https://twowishes.org/good-news-must-be-in-the-news/) - How good news of free child-inclusive mediation for all separating families avoids the harmful old ways - but the good news must be in the news to do any good.
- [The Tree of Hope](https://twowishes.org/the-tree-of-hope/) - Artist Paul Jackson was asked by the Bristol Grandparents Support Group in the UK to create an illustration depicting Estrangement (between grandparents and grandchildren). "My first thought," Paul said, "was 'How can I portray this without only illustrating despair, sorrow and frustration along with all the other emotions that grandparents and grandchildren experience?' Well, simply,
- [Family Courts not best for kids, say judges](https://twowishes.org/family-courts-not-best-for-kids-say-judges/) - MEDIA RELEASE 30 July 2025: Family Court Judges Call for Fresh Approach to Family Separation and Divorce at World Congress in Cambridge, UK An international panel of family court judges will today present a united call for a fundamental shift in how societies deal with family separation and divorce. Speaking at the World Congress on
- [A big challenge for a big world congress](https://twowishes.org/a-big-challenge-for-a-big-world-congress/) - Will a world congress on children's rights and family law answer the UK's Nuffield's call for family courts everywhere to improve their gap in data recording?
- [A showcase of innovation](https://twowishes.org/a-showcase-of-innovation/) - This conference show-cased innovative UK projects that answer the question: What are we doing to help children through parental separation?
- [It's about the kids, not us or our ego](https://twowishes.org/its-about-the-kids-not-us-or-our-ego/) - How and why one separated couple got back on good terms because it's about the kids and no one wants to inflict trauma on them.
- [New attuning for separated parents and children](https://twowishes.org/new-attuning-for-separated-parents-and-children/) - The book about the Goldson Model of mediation shows how child participation helps to attune separated parents and children.
- [Slow change for family relationships](https://twowishes.org/slow-change-for-family-relationships/) - A big two-yearly survey of UK families tells us of small positive trends but still only half of UK children regularly see both separated parents
- [Lasting memories of childhood separation](https://twowishes.org/lasting-memories-of-childhood-separation/) - Amicable's powerful video of grown-up children talking about their lasting memories of childhood separation.
- [Opening up family courts finds poor evidence base](https://twowishes.org/opening-up-family-courts-finds-poor-evidence-base/) - An inside report confirms that we cannot know what’s going on in UK family courts because there is such poor evidence there to find
- [More co-parenting in Belgium](https://twowishes.org/more-co-parenting-in-belgium/) - Family court judges have helped see a five-fold increase in co-parenting in Belgium over the last two decades
- [Precious relationship skills don't grow online](https://twowishes.org/precious-relationship-skills-dont-grow-online/) - Psychologist Jonathan Haidt shows that the change from a play-based to a phone-based childhood has been harmful because relationship skills don't grow online.
- [How conflict harms children after separation](https://twowishes.org/how-conflict-harms-children-after-separation/) - Research shows how fear of abandonment harms youth in high conflict separation and how to best to help the families
- [Millions of children denied their family, says SOS](https://twowishes.org/millions-of-children-denied-their-family-says-sos/) - SOS reports the harm to millions of children from unnecessary family separation when governments can realise the benefits of effective family support instead.
- [For parents and families](https://twowishes.org/for-parents-and-families/)
- [Parent stress a public health challenge says US surgeon general](https://twowishes.org/parent-stress-a-public-health-challenge-says-us-surgeon-general/) - 28 August 2024: The U.S. surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, issued a public health advisory about the impact of modern stresses on parents' mental health. He calls on government, businesses and community organizations to increase resources to provide them with more support. In a response, the Institute for Family Studies reminds us how parenting also brings
- [The principles of effective policy for children](https://twowishes.org/the-principles-of-effective-policy-for-children/) - UK's NGO Foundations sets out the key principles for the new UK Government that can turn their mission into effective policy for children and families.
- [Calling off the divorce](https://twowishes.org/calling-off-the-divorce/) - A media report shows attitudes are changing as more famous and ordinary couples decide that calling off the divorce is best.
- [How to save lives: just remember, we're human!](https://twowishes.org/how-to-save-lives-just-remember-were-human/) - Recognising that we're all human should be the first step in designing evidence-based systems that prioritise the wellbeing of children and families and save lives.
- [How UK Parliament can help separating families](https://twowishes.org/how-uk-parliament-can-help-separating-families/) - A UK All-Party Parliamentary Group has today published its comprehensive report on how the UK Parliament can help separating families.
- [Ambitious plan for ambitious children](https://twowishes.org/ambitious-plan-for-ambitious-children/) - Political leaders should listen to, and act on, what children have to say, says the Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza.
- [Give families "green, not harmful, footprints"](https://twowishes.org/green-not-harmful-footprints/) - If we don’t want families to go to war, then we shouldn't offer them an adversarial justice system, says Helen Adam of the UK's Family Solutions Group
- [Are we still a family?](https://twowishes.org/are-we-still-a-family/) - "Are we still a family?" after a divorce or family separation? It's a question that many people ask after going through a process that can be destructive.
- [Hey Sigmund](https://twowishes.org/hey-sigmund/) - Kids of all ages are most resourceful online. The earlier the better to learn how to navigate life and relationships. Karen Young's website, Hey Sigmund, gives children, young people and adults loads of tools to help them. https://www.heysigmund.com/category/being-human
- [Never a wise way, says US judge](https://twowishes.org/never-a-wise-way-says-us-judge/) - Experts would never come up with an adversarial court system to deal with family separation, says Two Wishes Advisory Board member & US Judge, Bruce Cohen.
- [UK moves to earlier resolution](https://twowishes.org/uk-moves-to-earlier-resolution/) - 12 Feb 2024: The UK Government has confirmed moves to earlier resolution of family disputes to reduce the "devastating impact" on children's wellbeing that family courts can make worse. The outcome report and press release set out the details. Families encounter a justice system that can, at times, reinforce conflict, pitting parents against each other
- [A new system](https://twowishes.org/6-step-program/) - Originally developed by our organisation in Australia, this six-step program outlines the steps needed to implement a fresh, health-focused approach to family separation. It shows the importance of avoiding interventions that are too late, by providing much more widespread support for children and families earlier, when they most need it. This 6-step program aims to
- [When co-parenting won't be news](https://twowishes.org/when-co-parenting-wont-be-news/) - Positive headline stories about separated families and co-parenting are rare. But the day will come when co-parenting won't be news. Parents who put their children's needs first after separating - like Victoria and David do - may nowadays be rare. So they've hit the headlines of Hello magazine. But a day will come when co-parenting
- [What changes are best?](https://twowishes.org/what-changes-are-best/) - The Two Wishes Foundation works with international partners to develop a modern approach for dealing with family separation or divorce. We aim to identify what changes are best to focus on. The approach is based on scientific evidence of what’s best for the long-term wellbeing of children and families. Family law dominates this subject in
- [Top UK judge: A better way than family courts](https://twowishes.org/top-uk-judge-a-better-way-than-family-courts/) - The UK's top family court judge, Sir Andrew MacFarlane, has a simple but radical plan: to promote better 'upstream' help for separating families so they avoid family courts entirely. He insists "There is a better way" than family courts for "supporting families in conflict". His key step will be to push the report "What About
- [Cancel culture can break family ties](https://twowishes.org/cancel-culture-can-break-family-ties/) - US marriage and family therapist, Patrick Ward has written about clients who are heartbroken by a new family pattern. Even a simple difference of view in a Facebook post can trigger family estrangement. Our wider cancel culture can break family ties now. This is how it goes: Some parent shares an opinion or maybe they
- [Malta's PM wants family court reform](https://twowishes.org/family-court-reform-for-malta/) - Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that his government intends to reform Malta's family courts.
- [Diabetes needs urgent education too](https://twowishes.org/diabetes-needs-urgent-education-too/) - Why do governments fail to address public health crises effectively? Because they can measure 'treatments', but not 'prevention'!
- [What art shows us](https://twowishes.org/what-art-shows/) - See how art can change hearts, minds - and understanding. In our Art category, you'll find illustrations, films, songs, poetry, plays, paintings and other forms of art. They help provide a deeper understanding of people's experiences of family life. How people are affected and moved, in all sorts of ways, by their personal experiences. How
- [Is co-parenting good for kids?](https://twowishes.org/co-parenting-good-for-kids/) - Scientific research shows that, on average, children do better after a family break-up with co-parenting than with a single parent. So, yes, co-parenting is generally good for kids. The results are particularly striking in Sweden where co-parenting has increased from 1% to around 40% over the past four decades. What we know already We don't
- [Support not court](https://twowishes.org/support-not-court/) - Two Wishes (Australia) Board member, and founder of the Divorce Centre, Cheryl Duffy advocates support not court for separating families. In this video, she explains the critical importance of emotional support for families. That is so often missing at the onset of separation. It will help "get to the other side with the least damage
- [Raising kids in America](https://twowishes.org/raising-kids-in-america/)
- [Do dads care?](https://twowishes.org/do-dads-care/) - Parental care may be embedded in the biology of human males and in many other animals. That's what is suggested by a paper in the Annual Review of Anthropology - reviewed by the Child and Family Blog. So, at home or as a provider, dads care. In the majority of species females and males care
- [How Scotland learns from abroad](https://twowishes.org/how-scotland-learns-from-abroad/) - Shared Parenting Scotland has published a report on finding out how other countries do things. Their resources now mean that anyone else in the world can benefit from how Scotland learns from abroad. To help shape how to help separating families and children, the new report follows up a series of webinars. The report starts
- [New dawn for separating families?](https://twowishes.org/new-dawn-for-separating-families/) - Dorset and North Wales in the UK have piloted a new Pathfinder scheme to replace the present family court system. Early enthusiasm has been led by the judges themselves. Could this be a new dawn for separating families and their children? No child has ever benefited from court delays and so the speed is brilliant
- [Rewriting the narrative of divorce](https://twowishes.org/rewriting-the-narrative-of-divorce/) - Kate Daly is co-founder of amicable, a UK couples divorce service, and host of The Divorce Podcast. In HELLO! magazine, she tells how her passion for rewriting the narrative of divorce grew from her own trainwreck experiences. We were drawn into conflicts because each lawyer wanted the best result for their client. Kate Daly of amicable
- [Addiction as a response to trauma](https://twowishes.org/addiction-a-response-to-trauma/) - Healing not curing As for healing addiction, Dr Gabor Maté carefully explains how societies tend to add more suffering to the trauma already suffered. Addicts are going to turn to the relief that they know. The ideology of helping professionals looking for cures, means that most don't ask the right questions to enable healing. Healing
- [Judge becomes an online playwright](https://twowishes.org/judge-becomes-an-online-playwright/) - When a sitting judge becomes an online playwright it must be a first. What more might he do when he retires?! The UK family court judge, Stephen Wildblood, has written several plays highlighting the dilemmas and difficulties faced in the family courts of the world, where life-changing, and often heart-rending, decisions are made every day.
- [Are we becoming worse parents?](https://twowishes.org/are-we-becoming-worse-parents/) - With all the doom and gloom in the world today, and the reporting of tragedies unfolding around the globe, it's tempting to believe the world is getting worse in every way. So are we becoming worse parents? We hear a lot about family violence and other problems in the family too, especially during and in
- [Film: Hope Gap](https://twowishes.org/film-hope-gap/) - Fiction is often shaped by the author's own life. It's more rare to see the connection so explicitly portrayed to the artist's own drama of family separation. But nearly everyone in the audience will know enough of family separation to connect sympathetically with what they see. Around the world, we need much more than one
- [The science of parental "instincts"](https://twowishes.org/parental-instincts/) - What does science tell us about parental "instincts" - about maternal, or even paternal, instincts? This National Geographic article (in 2018) spoke to anthropologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy and other scientists about the hormone, oxytocin. Oxytocin has specific biological functions for women giving birth and feeding babies. The same hormone triggers parental instincts not just in the
- [Chinese families can hug at last](https://twowishes.org/chinese-families-can-hug-at-last/) - 10 January 2023: Chinese families can hug at last as their government relaxes three years of strict pandemic rules. Back in 2020, during the first lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, surveys found that "not seeing family" was the biggest stress factor for people, above even losing a job or feeding the family. Restrictions in different
- [Because you belong to me](https://twowishes.org/because-you-belong-to-me/) - Family separation is common and often very stressful. "Because you belong to me" shows how that stress can also be harmful. Facing family separation, children can no longer take their family so much for granted: that is their first wish. They hope and need to continue to "belong" to all those they love and love
- [Fast family courts?](https://twowishes.org/dinant-family-courts/) - Fast family courts: in the Dinant district of Belgium, family court cases don't take three years - they take three weeks! The Consensus Model Since April 2012, the Dinant region of Belgium has employed an innovative approach to family law known as The Consensus Model. A team in Cochem, Germany, first developed the model in
- [A child's right to matter](https://twowishes.org/a-childs-right-to-matter/) - In November 2023, the UK's Family Solutions Group launched its second major report: "A Child's Right to Matter". It is based on a survey by the UK Youth Parliamen. The summary highlights the large number of children in the UK who live in separated families. That's 3.6 million children in 2.3 million families in 2021.
- [Mental "illness": nurture, not nature?](https://twowishes.org/mental-illness-nurture-not-nature/) - Richard Bentall sets out the view that poor mental health is not a disease or stigma. In a Guardian article he writes that it is mostly nurture, not nature. Mental health problems or "illness" are the result of trauma we experience, and not genetic vulnerability. It's not "brain conditions ... barely influenced by the slings
- [Separation is harsh without resources](https://twowishes.org/separation-is-harsh-without-resources/) - In September 2023, Jude Eyre of the UK's Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) summarised for a legal conference their 2022 report: "Separating families: Experiences of separation and support". Fortunate families can access the help that makes for better separation experiences. For the rest and their children, separation is harsh without resources. The NFJO is concerned
- [The importance of evidence](https://twowishes.org/the-importance-of-evidence/) - Everyone knows the importance of evidence. But what is good evidence when it comes to how we assess and respond to complex child and family situations? A new UK organisation sets a high campaigning standard: Foundations, the national What Works Centre for Children & Families. Foundations is a merger of two sister organisations What Works
- [Why courts at all?](https://twowishes.org/why-courts-at-all/) - For his talk in Edinburgh for Shared Parenting Scotland, Edward Kruk, chose the title: "Why courts at all?" Professor Kruk, Emeritus Professor of Social Work at the University of British Columbia, set out in detail a child-focused case for a presumption of shared parenting when families separate. He showed how family mediation and other healthier
- [Childhood trauma can last a lifetime - and beyond](https://twowishes.org/childhood-trauma-can-last-a-lifetime/) - In this TED talk in 2015 Nadine Burke Harris talks about the link between adverse childhood experiences, toxic stress and increased risks of worse physical and mental health throughout life. In fact - how early trauma can last a lifetime - and beyond. Dr Burke Harris is a Canadian-American pediatrician who became California's first Surgeon General in 2019. She was the
- [The perfect family court?](https://twowishes.org/perfect-family-court/) - Is there such a thing as the perfect family court? And, if so, what would this look like? This is one of the tasks being addressed by the Two Wishes Law & Justice Advisory Board, which is now inviting responses to its 2023 Discussion Paper. Two Wishes aims to transform how we all think about,
- [Europe advocates for parental equality](https://twowishes.org/europe-advocates-for-parental-equality/) - In this significant 2015 Resolution, the respected Council of Europe advocates for parental equality - and more equal, shared parenting after separation.
- [Top UK judge backs out-of-court divorce](https://twowishes.org/top-uk-judge-backs-out-of-court-divorce/) - Sir Andrew McFarlane, the President of the Family Division (one of three sections of the UK's High Court) and the UK's top family court judge, has backed an official, new report that proposes something radical: keeping separating families out of the court system!Although he still believes that, where there may be violence or abuse, many
- ["Good enough" parents](https://twowishes.org/good-enough-parents/) - In this TEDx talk in 2020, Dr Sue Whitcombe draws on her own family experiences. She shows that what children need is "good enough" parents. To be a "perfect" parent, strange to say, is not such a good thing. Children need their parents to make some mistakes sometimes, to have some bad moods - even though they're stressful.
- [Child development in less "WEIRD" places](https://twowishes.org/child-development-in-less-weird-places/) - Professor Tom Weisner is an anthropologist who has studied societies all over the world. Most of the world's children grow up in developing countries which are less "WEIRD" than the developed ones. What can we learn about child development in less "WEIRD" places? The most important thing is where in the world a child is
- [See it differently](https://twowishes.org/see-it-differently/) - "See it differently" features five short videos. Five different families losing their cool in front of their children. From behind a window, the parents watch themselves and reflect on how they handle a typical family scene. They stop to think and talk about it. Then they replay the scene and see how they deal with
- [Every quote tells a child's story](https://twowishes.org/every-quote-tells-a-childs-story/) - “When I walk away from mum, I feel sad. Then, when I walk away from dad I’m sad too. I am almost always sad now.” Max, 9 “My mother is crazy about control; she always calls when I’m with dad. She won’t leave us alone.” Jessie, 12 “I would like to cut myself in the
- [Young people's advice](https://twowishes.org/young-peoples-advice/) - At the heart of the Two Wishes' Vision is young people's advice based on their own experiences of family separation and divorce.
- [What young people say about family separation](https://twowishes.org/what-young-people-say/) - Many young people who went through a family separation when they were children have strong views, especially if their family went through a family court system. Here are some quotes from Australian research about what young people say about family separation. And there's more quotes where those came from. Behind each quote we can tell
- [Courts leave children in limbo](https://twowishes.org/courts-leave-children-in-limbo/) - The decision-making system for families and children slows right down when courts are involved. An overview of recent raw* UK data confirms how badly courts leave children in limbo. Prolonged care proceedings and parental separation cases in the family court system means leaving “thousands of children in limbo”. Marieta Marinova, reporter, paraphrasing The Law Society
- ["Stay out of court"](https://twowishes.org/stay-out-of-court/) - Couples who separate or divorce can find a profusion of advice about how best to do it. More often than not that advice ends with: "Stay out of court". One of many experts who say this is Dr Anne Gold Buscho. Family separation is a major emotional and practical stress. And especially for the children.
- [Divorce costs Australia $101 billion](https://twowishes.org/divorce-costs-australia-101-billion/) - 28 August 2023: Family separation and divorce costs Australia $101 billion a year. That was one of the take-home messages at the launch of the 2023 State of Separation report by the Melbourne-based Separation Guide. It's just one of many startling conclusions from a report that highlights how: the cost of living makes separation impossible
- [Spreading the word](https://twowishes.org/spreading-the-word/) - Devoted campaigners often leave little time for promoting their good work and ideas effectively to the world. This short video on early support for troubled families is a good example of spreading the word. Just a few minutes of creative constructive child-focused story-telling gets the message across to the wider world as well as to
- [Judge calls for more problem-solving](https://twowishes.org/judge-calls-for-more-problem-solving/) - A High Court judge has called for more problem-solving than a court provides for separating families. In her recent judgement Mrs Justice Lieven is frustrated with the legal system's inherent backward-looking adversarial approach: If the family justice system is to have the slightest chance of dealing with cases in a timely and productive manner and
- [Imagine there's no lawyers](https://twowishes.org/imagine-theres-no-lawyers/) - Imagine there’s no lawyers. It’s easy if you try. ... Legendary Beatle John Lennon is famous for his advocacy of peace, harmony and goodwill. But few people know he extended this philosophy to his views on divorce. When people decide to get divorced, quite often they decide amicably. But then when they can’t speak to
- [2040 Vision: Australia](https://twowishes.org/2040-vision-australia/) - So we can make "family wellbeing" and "scientific evidence" the most prominent words we use, instead of "family courts" and "custody". Same words; different vision. And it's a 2040 vision for the world not just Australia.
- [The impact of parental stress](https://twowishes.org/the-impact-of-parental-stress/) - Dr Gabor Maté makes the case for the major role that parental stress plays in the lives of children today; "children pick up on parental stress" (11.40). ... It's not controversial ...
- [Logic - suicide prevention song](https://twowishes.org/logic-music-video/) - Click here for more voices of young people - and how family separation affects them.
- [James: how to cope with your parents' divorce](https://twowishes.org/coping-when-your-parents-separate/) - James set up Kid to Kid Therapy on Youtube. His topic in this video is: How to cope with your parents divorce. James recommends: Having a strong support system as an important part of getting through to the other side of a hard time in your life, in one sensible piece. You can find more
- [Parenting Coordinators: a missing link?](https://twowishes.org/parenting-coordinators-a-missing-link/) - Are "parenting coordinators" a missing link in dealing with family separation or divorce? Should they - with their skills of coach and mediator wrapped into one - and not lawyers, be one of the first ports of call for a family under stress or "breaking up"? Does the legal system do all this? According to
- [Children See Children Do](https://twowishes.org/children-see-children-do/) - Brilliant short videos can capture and convey much more to the many than ordinary writing and media can. Effective campaigning for social change for children and families takes more than the ordinary.
- [COVID-19 improved family courts](https://twowishes.org/covid-19-improved-family-courts/) - COVID-19 improved family courts with the introduction of internet and video technology for remote hearings. So the pandemic transformed how family courts operate around the world today. But the remote hearings do little to address the number of cases that continue, every day, to demonstrate that our current system is unsustainable.
- [Successful new ways for families in Scotland](https://twowishes.org/new-ways-for-families-in-scotland/) - 5 June 2023: The independent evaluation of a year-long pilot project confirms that New Ways For Families works in Scotland. Launched in the Scottish Parliament, Shared Parenting Scotland is rolling the program out. Now any separated families across Scotland can benefit from using it. The combination of online learning and one to one sessions with
- [A song of separation](https://twowishes.org/song-of-separation/) - A vision of a future culture when we transform how we think about divorce and family separation. Karen is the author of the book "Co-parenting from the inside out".
- [Film: UK marriage and divorce](https://twowishes.org/uk-marriage-and-divorce/) - Tina Rayburn made this TV film in 2018 about UK marriage and divorce and the impact of the family court system on children. It is still relevant now when it comes to transforming how we think about and deal with separating families.
- [The Child of Divorce](https://twowishes.org/the-child-of-divorce/)
- [How does your country value the family?](https://twowishes.org/how-does-your-country-value-the-family/) - All countries around the world rate the family as essential for life. Families of all kinds raise children. And families do lots more throughout life. The World Values Survey tells us more about eaech country's values. How does your country value the family? Here's a good way to learn about this big project. Using the World
- [Think Equal: Social and emotional learning for children](https://twowishes.org/think-equal-social-and-emotional-learning-for-children/) - Leslee Udwin is a filmmaker who turned into a human rights champion and social entrepreneur. He created Think Equal. It's the world’s 1st comprehensive way to teach social and emotional learning for children aged 3-6 years. Think Equal works through teachers and parents as Early Years Education. We can see how this high-quality creative resource can
- [I didn't know](https://twowishes.org/i-didnt-know/)
- [6-year old's instructions](https://twowishes.org/6-year-olds-instructions/)
- [We need loving contact like oxygen](https://twowishes.org/we-need-loving-contact-like-oxygen/) - Two experts team up to show how, all through our lives, we need loving contact like oxygen. Both Ed Tronick and Sue Johnson base their work on the relationship science of Attachment. Dr Tronick's famous "still face experiment" is in their video: Love Sense: from Infant to Adult. We see how young babies react when
- [Why we now partner up: to raise children?](https://twowishes.org/we-now-partner-up-to-raise-children/) - Richard Reeves asks: "Is marriage dying?" He tracks big social changes in the USA. The family pattern of child-rearing Mums and bread-winning Dads has long gone. He suggests the new model means that we now partner up to raise children. Before his conclusion, Richard Reeves, author & Fellow at the Brookings Institute, reviews the evidence
- [The most powerful mental health intervention that we know](https://twowishes.org/the-most-powerful-mental-health-intervention/) - "The parent-child connection is the most powerful mental health intervention known to mankind." That's what trauma-specialist and best-selling author, Dr Bessel van der Kolk tell us. It's obvious when you come to think of it, but many of don't. Dr van der Kolk's lifetime of research, writing, teaching and practice provides the evidence. In his
- [How gaslighting harms children](https://twowishes.org/how-gaslighting-harms-children/) - Psychologist, Daniel S Lobel explains how gaslighting harms children. He says: "Parents can gain respect from their children by taking responsibility for their errors and flaws." Gaslighting is a form of manipulation where victims are led to doubt their memories, beliefs, feelings, or sanity. Then they can be taken advantage of in some way. So
- [Alcohol problems are not a crime](https://twowishes.org/alcohol-problems-are-not-a-crime/) - Alcohol problems will no longer be a crime in Melbourne and throughout the State of Victoria. Policy changes will see public drunkenness become a health issue by the end of 2023. The move was announced by Victoria's Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes following a Government report last year into decriminalising public drunkenness and the development of an
- [Australia fails children's best interests. Again.](https://twowishes.org/australia-fails-childrens-best-interests-again/) - 5 March 2023: Australia's never-ending family law reviews, and revisions to its beleaguered Family Law Act (1975), continue with the Government's latest draft Family Law Amendment Bill 2023. But, once again, Australia is failing to best protect children's best interests. While many of the proposed amendments to the Family Law Act represent valuable improvements to
- [Money to avoid family court](https://twowishes.org/money-to-avoid-family-court/) - UK Government plans to encourage separating families to avoid courts by providing further incentives for them to go instead to mediation.
- [Can divorce lead to Multiple Sclerosis?](https://twowishes.org/can-divorce-lead-to-multiple-sclerosis/) - It may seem absurd to ask: "Can divorce lead to Multiple Sclerosis?" But new research from Norway has now linked Multiple Sclerosis to childhood trauma. With family separation or divorce a leading contributor to such trauma, links between family separations and specific illnesses are no longer in the realms of science fiction. In fact, the
- [Early adversity causes long-term harm](https://twowishes.org/early-adversity-causes-long-term-harm/) - 8 Feb 2023: A new study reveals how early adversity causes long-term harm to the mental health and cognitive functioning of young people.Early-life adversity – such as poverty, illness, family conflict or divorce – has long been linked to mental health difficulties and poorer cognitive functioning as children grow up. A new study from Cambridge
- [Screening for childhood trauma](https://twowishes.org/screening-for-childhood-trauma/) - Nadine Burke-Harris, MD How the plan will work Slides that Dr Burke-Harris presents in her lecture show more of the details of the plan after screening for childhood trauma. The costs are California's "investment" in early positive measures. At the top of the list is "supportive relationships" from family and all those who care.
- [Dare to look away to unseen suffering](https://twowishes.org/dare-to-look-away-to-unseen-suffering/) - To stop wider and future suffering, we must dare to look away to unseen suffering. That' s Dr Hans Rosling's advice in his much-acclaimed book Factfulness. Yet it's almost impossible for us to turn away from the people suffering in front of us. Other factors make it harder still. Dr Rosling was working in a
- [How Israel helps children of divorce](https://twowishes.org/help-for-divorce-in-israel/) - In-between (or Bein Le Vein) is an innovative organization that provides all kinds of help for the children in-between in divorce in Israel. With English-subtitles, this promotional video explains their approach. Bein Le Vein works with a big picture. Divorce is a long-term social issue. Support for separating families and children is an investment in
- [Our 2040 vision](https://twowishes.org/our-2040-vision/) - Our vision for the year 2040 is based on evidence and world's best practices available right now. We can learn much from looking at the best scientific research from around the world, as well as by looking at the best practices, programs, pilot schemes and people around today. Our key decision-makers, politicians, are often reluctant
- [Shaping the best system for separating families](https://twowishes.org/shaping-the-best-future-system-for-separating-families/) - It's common knowledge that support systems for separating families need to be improved everywhere. Thousands of activists choose to work with one part of the system. They hope that will do the trick. This pie chart lets us think more carefully about shaping the best future system for separating families. For Kids Sake, our Australian
- [One of the best short films ever?](https://twowishes.org/iranian-short-film/) - There's more information here about the Iranian writer/director who created this award-winning film and, once you've watched, click on page 2 below if you'd like to understand the cultural context a bit better. It's worth it! With acknowledgements to the film-makers and those who've commented on the YouTube channel ...This beautiful short movie is called
- [Scotland backs shared parenting](https://twowishes.org/scotland-backs-shared-parenting/) - 10 Jan 2023: In a debate today in the Scottish Parliament, members have backed shared parenting and thrown their support behind the New Ways for Families programme, piloted by Shared Parenting Scotland. While emphasising the importance of protecting children from abuse, Minister for Community Safety Elena Whitham MSP recognised the "longer-lasting, generational impacts" of family
- [Family court "a harming process" says top judge](https://twowishes.org/family-court-a-harming-process-says-top-judge/) - 26 Jan 2023: Family court is "not a healing process. It’s likely to be a harming process for the parents and for the children who find themselves part of family proceedings," said the UK's top family court judge Sir Andrew MacFarlane at the Houses of Parliament in London. Sir Andrew was speaking at the launch
- [New workplace support for separating parents](https://twowishes.org/new-workplace-support-for-separating-parents/) - A new workplace initiative for separating parents is today being launched at the UK's Houses of Parliament, following the release of a new survey showing that family breakdown had an impact on the ability to work for 9 out of 10 employees.The survey, carried out by an alliance of over 20 organisations including the Two
- [Hollywood director's take on parenting](https://twowishes.org/hollywood-parenting/) - Famous Hollywood director Rob Reiner has a passion for good parenting. He and Michele Singer made a video tape series "The First Years Last Forever". That's now available online. Here's a good start with "I Am Your Child": "I Am Your Child: The First Years Last Forever" (29 mins) Rob and Michele founded the "I
- [Social babies!](https://twowishes.org/social-babies/) - There was a time, not so long ago, when some people didn't believe that babies could engage in social interactions. But science has shown us that babies are, in fact, ultra-sensitive to social cues around them, especially from their parents. In a classic experiment, the so-called "still face" experiment, we see that a mum not
- [More stay-at-home dads](https://twowishes.org/more-stay-at-home-dads/) - 25 Dec 2022: The COVID pandemic lockdowns seem to have resulted in more stay-at-home dads. A Guardian report unpacked the full details collected by the UK's Office for National Statistics. “Every single day, I’m involved with my kids more than I was the first time around. And, quite simply, that equates to happiness.” Scott James
- [The Parents Promise](https://twowishes.org/the-parents-promise/) - What is the Parents Promise? International launch: May 2021 Launched in 2021 by an alliance of child-focused organisations including Two Wishes, the Parents Promise is a written or spoken commitment made by parents, to each of their children, that they will always do their best to look after each child. It’s a commitment to make
- [Surviving the pain of family break-up](https://twowishes.org/surviving-the-pain-of-family-break-up/) - A guideline for surviving the pain of family break-up tells us how "indescribable" the pain can be. Last ditch survival guidelines are a clarion call for better earlier support for separating families. The guidelines are for the troubled adults. But everyone's concern focuses on the children in the middle. Children depend on the struggling adults.
- [6-point plan](https://twowishes.org/australia-solutions/) - Our partners For Kids Sake in Australia have developed some of the most comprehensive and inclusive solutions to the issues of family separation and family violence. Many of the principles and policies they recommend are applicable around the globe. For Kids Sake’s “6 point plan” has established six key principles fundamental to improving the current
- [Red Cross on Family Separation](https://twowishes.org/red-cross-on-family-separation/) - This report by the Australian Red Cross highlights the impact on people of being separated from a family member, especially with the added uncertainty of not having any communication with them or knowing about how they're doing. The Australian Red Cross (ARC) implements the Restoring Family Links (RFL) program as a member of the International
- [Is the "maternal instinct" a myth?](https://twowishes.org/maternal-instinct/) - The idea of a maternal instinct is deeply rooted in many human societies. But is there really such a thing? And can this powerful concept sometimes make lives harder - for mums who want their partners to play an equal role in care-giving, for dads who care deeply for children and for individuals who struggle
- [The wisdom of adult children of divorce](https://twowishes.org/the-wisdom-of-adult-children-of-divorce/) - What children suffer and say about their families separating, shapes the change the world needs now. We can learn more with the wisdom of adult children of divorce. The US mediation service, Concord Mediation Group, has set up a YouTube channel to share stories to help re-imagine family separation. Grown up, the children's stories remain
- [A smart way for separated families to connect](https://twowishes.org/smart-way-for-separated-families/) - War-divided families can still read bedtime stories with their children. A new app provides a smart way for separated families to connect - whatever the reason they're apart. Fathers are obliged to stay at the front line of Ukraine's war, separated from their partners and children who are safe in other countries. So Andriy Shmyhelskyy,
- [Advice ignored since 1925: Courts are not good for children](https://twowishes.org/courts-are-not-good-for-children/) - 28 October 2022: A century ago in 1925, the barrister Sir Claud Schuster warned the law-makers that decisions made in courts are not good for children. After 100 years, the UK's top family court judge (again) urges us all that family courts should be the last resort not the first port of call for separating
- [Win a prize! Annual competition](https://twowishes.org/art-competition/) - Every year, Two Wishes will be holding a competition - for the best art relating to family wellbeing and family breakdown. Judged by a team of arts professionals, categories include: Painting/illustration/drawingWriting (prose and poetry)Performance (plays, dance, songs)Film and video The deadline for the inaugural competition is 30 April 2023. Submission is easy: we'll attach a
- [Share your story](https://twowishes.org/share-your-story/) - Did your family split up when you were young? Do you have experience of your family going through the family court system when you were a child? Wherever you are in the world, we’re collecting video stories of those who’ve experienced family breakup or family court proceedings. What was it like for you? How did it
- [Join our team](https://twowishes.org/join-us/) - "If you want to go far," as the saying goes, "Go together!" If you share our passion for the wellbeing of children and families and would like to contribute, please make contact with us.
- [How parents give their children happy lives](https://twowishes.org/how-parents-give-their-children-happy-lives/) - Major scientific studies show how parents give their children happy lives. It's not as simple as the headline sounds. Science journalist, Helen Pearson translates the complex findings of the UK's huge long-term cohort studies of childhood development so we can all learn from the results. Her TED talk is clear and amusing. Ultimately, if we
- [Dr Gabor Maté on parenting](https://twowishes.org/mate-parenting/)
- [Judges should focus on resolution, not dispute](https://twowishes.org/judges-should-focus-on-resolution-not-dispute/) - 8 October 2022: Family court judges should focus on resolution, not dispute, says Rosalía Fernández Alaya. President of GEMME, the European Association of Judges for Mediation, her speech at the Warsaw Bar Association has been published. She highlights the increasing discomfort of many family court judges with their traditional role as arbiters of disputes. In family
- [Children simply want happy homes](https://twowishes.org/children-simply-want-happy-homes/) - A recent big post-pandemic survey of 4 to 17 year olds in England gives us a positive picture of their lives. Most are already happy at home and in their mental health; they're pleased to be back at school. All of them are clear about what matters most. Whatever kind of family they have -
- [Knowing how separated families stay connected](https://twowishes.org/how-separated-families-stay-connected/) - An experienced child psychologist in the UK has used her own family experiences to remind us how separated families stay connected. It's obvious. Granny Whitcombe describes what we all know how to do. But - as she has done before - Dr Whitcombe explains how ignorant we can also be. Many of us - ordinary
- [Making childhood adversity understandable](https://twowishes.org/making-childhood-adversity-understandable/) - The US book "Childhood Disrupted" led the way in making childhood adversity understandable for all of us. Recent research challenges old myths. It's wrong to think that: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". US author Donna Jackson Nakazawa wrote Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal. It is
- [Kids murdered after family court](https://twowishes.org/kids-murdered-after-family-court/) - 2 Sep 2022: Two children have been murdered by one of their parents in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA. It's the latest in a long list of kids murdered by parents, or close families members after family court proceedings. Often these are also family murder-suicides. Often they're linked directly to family court proceedings. This murder
- [Israel leads the world as judges qualify in child development](https://twowishes.org/israel-leads-the-world-as-judges-qualify-in-child-development/) - Sixteen judges in Israel brought something new to their family courts in 2022. As well as being Family Law specialists, they have a Master's degree in Child Development from Haifa University. That means Israel leads the world as the first family court judges qualify in child development at this level. Professor Avi Sagi-Shwartz led the
- [Shared parenting legislation in USA](https://twowishes.org/shared-parenting-legislation-in-usa/) - The USA's National Parents Organization has mapped out shared parenting legislation across the USA. And they commission polls that show Americans' "overwhelmingly positive" views on shared parenting for children’s well-being when parents live apart. Shared parenting is a core part of the organization's strategy and vision to promote shared parenting by educating parents, divorce professionals,
- [What children need when parents separate](https://twowishes.org/what-children-need-when-parents-separate/) - During a separation or divorce the children's world turns upside down. "What about Aruna?" is a series of four evidence-based half-hour videos produced by Only Mums and Dad that sets out what children need when parents separate. Dr Angharad Rudkin presents the evidence in a slide show about how to support children through a difficult
- [UK Govt incentivises mediation](https://twowishes.org/uk-govt-incentivises-mediation/) - 3 June 2022: The UK Government has added £5.4 million in funding to the scheme it launched in March 2021. Incentivising mediation aims to get families out of courts, wherever possible. Preliminary research from the Family Mediation Council, who run the scheme, is promising. It suggests that as many as 50% of participants would not
- [Guns, Germs & Divorce: Treating social ills as health issues](https://twowishes.org/treat-social-ills-as-health-concerns/) - Another US school gun massacre sets off the usual debate as if this is just a political or criminal justice problem. In contrast, the world rapidly worked out how to deal with a major global health problem: the COVID pandemic. Experts urge us to treat social ills as health concerns not legal ones. If the
- [Early Intervention](https://twowishes.org/early-intervention/)
- [Making better headlines about family separation](https://twowishes.org/making-better-headlines-about-family-separation/) - Catherine Baksi writes in The Times that there's "Room for improvement on divorce". Journalists and editors are turning to more positive language. They've tended to talk of "expert lawyers", "warring parents" and "parents not seeing their children". Now they can turn to better headlines about family separation. The Times article, for example, draws on intelligent
- [We can do without combative family contests](https://twowishes.org/do-without-combative-family-contests/) - Family lawyers call the first Monday of January ‘Divorce Day’ as divorce enquiries boom. Family lawyer, Caroline Elliot, says "Divorce Day is not a happy day and certainly not one celebrate." Two Wishes CEO, David Curl, explained in The Australian why we can do without combative family contests. Read his full article here. He writes that:
- [Talking about suicide](https://twowishes.org/never-be-worried-about-talking-about-suicide/) - The Bristol Grandparents Support Group is one of 100s and 100s of voluntary organisations who support family members faced with stress or separation. They can be life-savers. In her blog, "Caller Responder", Jane sets out a clear guideline so that we need never worry about talking about suicide. Volunteer helplines may literally save lives, given
- [Israel makes child safety hearings urgent](https://twowishes.org/israel-makes-child-safety-hearings-urgent/) - 8 October 2020: In a decision of international significance, family courts in Israel are to hear child safety cases within 14 days. Leading the way, Israel makes child safety hearings urgent. In many countries, getting a finding of fact or a judgment in such cases can take months, or sometimes years,. That delay can adversely
- [Malta needs family law overhaul](https://twowishes.org/malta-needs-family-law-overhaul/) - Like every country that has a family law system, Malta is desperately in need of major family law reform. In this feature in one of Malta's most-read newspapers, President of Happy Parenting Malta, Mary Gauci discusses some of the changes urgently needed to improve Malta's family law system. Along with Dr Ivan Sammut, Deputy Dean
- [50 suicides linked to break-ups](https://twowishes.org/50-suicides-linked-to-break-ups/) - 50 recent suicides in the county of Kent, UK, alone have been linked to relationship break-ups. This was one of many frightening statistics highlighted in this year's Bridget Lindley Memorial Lecture: Time for Climate Change in the Family Justice System. The lecture, this year, was given by Helen Adam, mediator and Chair of the Family
- [Children need support, not just "no-fault divorce"](https://twowishes.org/children-need-support-not-just-no-fault-divorce/) - On 6 April 2022, England and Wales finally got "no-fault divorce" ... but it's too little, too late for hundreds of thousands of children in the UK alone. Children need much greater, much earlier support, not just "no-fault divorce". Times-letter-2022-04Download
- [War story headline: "We worked as one family"](https://twowishes.org/war-story-headline-we-worked-as-one-family/) - Channel 4 News followed one family's long escape from Odesa to reunite in England. When asked what war stories he hoped the youngsters would end up telling each other, Andrij was in no doubt: "we worked as one family". I would like them to tell that we worked as a single family looking after each
- [Separating families need "support, not a boxing ring"](https://twowishes.org/separating-families-need-support-not-a-boxing-ring/) - 23 Mar, 2022: Separating families need "support, not a boxing ring,” says the Family Solutions Group, a group of family law experts brought together by the UK’s top family court judges. On 23 March, the group held an event to help turn this vision into reality. Helen Adams, family mediator, tirelessly leads this project forward.
- [We must change the language of divorce](https://twowishes.org/change-the-language-of-divorce/) - The language of divorce needs to change, says UK Mediator and Chair of the Family Solutions Group, Helen Adam.
- [27,000 UK children need not be in care](https://twowishes.org/27000-uk-children-need-not-be-in-care/) - In her book "Behind Closed Doors" (2022), journalist Polly Curtis reports on her extensive investigation of children in the UK removed from their families into care - foster care or care-homes. She says that with better support for the families 27,000 children need not be in care. Removal may have been unnecessary for as many
- [A child's shoes](https://twowishes.org/a-childs-shoes/) - This short animation is from the same, award-winning director who made what we think may be one of the best short films you'll see in a long while!
- [Kids in care: not actually home?](https://twowishes.org/kids-in-care-not-actually-home/) - Big government systems can blindly break up small family systems. Sometimes - like Trump at the Mexico border and lockdown in care homes - it hits the headlines. Sometimes it's part of helping troubled families. Most private family break-ups won't be media stories. All these family cut-offs cause great pain and harm. Why? No connection
- [Dear Zachary: Must Watch](https://twowishes.org/dear-zachary-must-watch/) - Mamamia's review is not wrong: this is one film you should watch. If you think documentaries are boring, or predictable, or lack a story, you should give this one a go. Re-released in 2018, with a new, additional ending, and currently available on Vimeo in the USA, it's a film that takes you where you're
- [The impact of divorce on children](https://twowishes.org/the-impact-of-divorce-on-children/) - Kids' body reactions tell researchers about the impact of divorce on children and how parents can behave better with them. Tamara D Afifi is Professor of Communication at the University of California Santa Barbara. In this TEDx talk, she summarises research on how parents' conflict affects their children. Parents' behaviour can harm or help their
- [Haunted by nightmares](https://twowishes.org/haunted-by-nightmares/) - The ongoing war in Ukraine will affect its children and their families for generations. Such is the nature of childhood trauma.
- [Why Swedish kids do better](https://twowishes.org/swedish-kids/) - Not Sweden again! For whatever social issue we can think of, it seems that Sweden, and Scandinavia in general, do it differently. With Sweden's unusual approach to COVID-19 in 2020, some of the traditional gloss may have worn off. But when it comes to family life after a separation or divorce, the research is clear: Swedish
- [Sarah Cecilie: a film](https://twowishes.org/sarah-cecilie-a-film/) - "Sarah Cecilie" is a 38 minute film about the true and traumatic story of her parental childhood adbuction. The film includes her re--connecting as an adult with her parents and how she resolves to settle down to her own family life. I called my mother, for the first time, when I was 17. ... I
- [For young people](https://twowishes.org/help-for-young-people/) - If your Mum and Dad are separating – or for any kind of worry you have – why not write your own letter, or make a recording of what you’d say? Just putting things can sometimes help, on its own. You may prefer to keep your words private or you may find it useful to
- [Cut off from family, they "gave up and died"](https://twowishes.org/cut-off-from-family-they-gave-up-and-died/) - The "big scandal" of Covid was that some isolated care home residents “gave up and died” because they were unable to see loved ones during the pandemic, says Jeremy Richardson, the outgoing boss of a major care provider. The pandemic shows how important family connection is. It even keeps us alive. Not just as children,
- [Find more to unite than divide us](https://twowishes.org/find-more-to-unite-than-divide-us/) - Sharing a beer isn't usually enough to resolve conflict. Every day of every life brings conflict for us to work on. It may be at home, at play, at work or on the street. When it gets out of hand - in politics, in families, in social media - conflict is destructive or even fatal.
- [Mum, Dad can you hear me?](https://twowishes.org/mum-dad-can-you-hear-me/) - Despina Mavridou, a family mediator in Greece, wrote her book "Mum, Dad can you hear me?" for two reasons. First, so that separating parents can understand divorce through the eyes of Irene, a ten year old child. And second, so that children in separating families can understand that they are not alone, that a healthy
- [Where "mama" means dad!](https://twowishes.org/mama-dad/) - For most of us, the words mum and dad, or perhaps mama and papa, hold a very special meaning. But, have you ever thought about how widespread those words might be? Or why?The word mama has the same meaning in a huge range of languages; it's almost the same from Chinese to Arabic to Swahili
- [You need to know about "ACEs"](https://twowishes.org/aces/)
- [Judge Judy](https://twowishes.org/judge-judy-whats-best-for-children/) - Judge Judy tells parents to do what's best for children. Make sure the kids have a good relationship with both their separated parents. Judge Judy is typically blunt in her TV court room work. In this video clip, Judge Judy has heard the two separated parents contesting the parenting time of their two children. She
- [Uniting families divided by the past](https://twowishes.org/uniting-families-divided-by-the-past/) - Social media helped two brothers reunite 74 years after partition was imposed between India and Pakistan. Uniting families divided by the past has hit the headlines. For two years, the Covid virus cut families off from hugging each other. This video "went viral" and long-awaited hugs were news. The reunion of Saddique and Sikka Khan
- [Poem of separation](https://twowishes.org/poem-of-separation/) - Sherri Mills' video brings us a visual poem of separation through the eyes of children facing their parents' divorce. The song is Christina Perri's: "Human" - with the full lyrics in the comments there. The powerful chorus is an emotional plea for the children: "I'm only human and I bleed when I fall down and
- [Reunited after a lifetime](https://twowishes.org/almost-an-entire-life-without-your-dad/) - Family reunion after 58 years
- [20 NY kids killed during family court cases](https://twowishes.org/kids-killed-family-courts/) - 2022, Jan 14: 20 children have been killed in New York State alone over the past five years, reports local NY channel news12. The conclusion: the court system "is hurting many of the families it was designed to protect". Growing calls for family court reform in the state come on the heels of a sobering
- [Stepfamilies in Australia & UK](https://twowishes.org/stepfamilies-in-australia-and-uk/) - Stepparents don't always get the best coverage in the media - or in fairy tales. But, in the real world, they're a major part of today's families. Here are two resources for stepfamilies in Australia and the UK. In Australia, Stepfamilies Australia leads the way in supporting stepparents and in shifting attitudes too. Have a
- [Freud's family legacy](https://twowishes.org/freuds-family-legacy/) - The AFNCCF provides clear advice and guidance for parents in conflict or those who are separating. That includes advice about the impact on children, self-care and ways to move forward. During the 2020-21 COVID lockdowns, the centre adapted its services to deliver them online. As part of the Reducing Parenting Conflict programme, they collaborated with
- [Biggest stress factor: not seeing family](https://twowishes.org/biggest-stress-factor-not-seeing-family/) - It's official: "not seeing family" was declared the biggest stress factor. In a YouGov survey in Australia at the height of the COVID pandemic, that's what 77% of all people felt. It was well ahead of "feeding the family" (at 48%), "losing a job" (49%) or "paying the bills" (60%). The COVID crisis has massively
- [Secret family courts aren't healthy](https://twowishes.org/secret-family-courts-arent-healthy/) - The UK's top judge says family courts should not be held in secret. Sir Andrew McFarlane is President of the Family Division. He launched the Family Courts Transparency Report. That means letting the public know more about what happens. Family courts make major decisions about children's lives. He told BBC's Today program that the courts
- [Mediation - helping parents talk about separating](https://twowishes.org/helping-parents-talk-about-separating/) - Family Mediation helps parents who are separating to talk through their differences. This short UK video shows how it works. In just a short film, we see how challenging family separation can be. They're sensible, yet this couple are stirred up. They even stir us up in the audience. In this cliff-hanger of family life,
- [The power of compassion](https://twowishes.org/the-power-of-compassion/) - What is kindness? We may need reminding. Here's fifty good answers in just 90 seconds. We all thrive on kindness and compassion. We want it especially for our children. Kindness gets lost when things go wrong. Troubled children and families most need compassionate help. Yet where it is most needed, kindness is sometimes the last
- [Kids learn emotions early](https://twowishes.org/kids-learn-emotions-early/) - It should go without saying that children learn from watching their parents and other adults. But, the extent to which children pick up on and respond to how adults are feeling can be surprising. Kids learn emotions early. In this classic experiment, described here by its University of Washington participants, a toddler stops playing with
- [Disobedience can be good for you!](https://twowishes.org/disobedience-can-be-good-for-you/) - Guide dogs for the blind inspired Ira Chaleff to write his 2015 book: Intelligent Disobedience: Doing right when what you’re told to do is wrong. These dogs learn to obey every order - yet they must also disobey orders when they see it’s not safe. If dogs can learn when they need to be disobedient, humans can
- [Skype kids](https://twowishes.org/skype-kids/) - During the COVID-19 crisis of 2020-21, we have all become even more aware of the importance of family. Children need to maintain family connections with all who love and care for them. Yet still, today, governments everywhere put policies in place that mean children miss out on growing up with their family. That can be
- [Children's Mental Health Week](https://twowishes.org/childrens-mental-health-week/) - The Two Wishes Foundation is proud to support Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week in February each year. In 2021 the theme was Express Yourself. Watch Royal Patron HRH The Duchess of Cambridge's video message to children to express themselves. She says that parents and carers also need to look after themselves - "To be the very best
- [AU$220 billion/year mental health cost](https://twowishes.org/au220-billion-year-mental-health-cost/) - A new report by Australia's Productivity Commission at last puts a price tag on the cost of mental health issues, including self-harm and suicide. It comes in at a staggering AU$220 billion/year (US$160 billion/year)."The biggest barrier for me was not knowing who or where to go to," Divra Krishnan said. "And when I did seek
- [Australia doubles mental health subsidy](https://twowishes.org/australia-doubles-mental-health-subsidy/) - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Budget announced funding for more mental health help. All Australians can get up to 20 sessions a year with a psychologist. That's twice the funding before. But the subsidy of AU$128/hour might still not cover the full fee.It's a good step forward that sees the importance of
- [Oprah on divorce](https://twowishes.org/oprah-on-divorce/) - Oprah Winfrey brings in an expert and talks with children about the impact of family separation or divorce. What should parents do? How should they talk with their children? How should they help their children adjust to a different family life? Two Wishes editor writes: This video raises a question of ethics: The world does
- [Stolen Generations, Australia](https://twowishes.org/stolen-generations-australia/) - 2020 - and Aboriginal kids are still being taken away from their families. "Aboriginal children make up almost 40 per cent of all young people in out-of-home care in NSW [New South Wales]". And this Sydney newspaper reports how not enough has been done.
- [No-fault divorce in UK](https://twowishes.org/no-fault-divorce/) - New legislation in the UK aims to end the blame game when families separate.
- [For professionals](https://twowishes.org/for-professionals/)
- [Separated co-parents: Allies not adversaries](https://twowishes.org/separated-co-parents-allies-not-adversaries/) - Ebony Roberts and Shaka Senghor show how separated parents can be allies not adversaries.
- [Learn about divorce when you first get together!](https://twowishes.org/learn-about-divorce-when-you-first-get-together/) - New couples should all learn about divorce, says Harvard Law Professor, Jeannie Suk Gersen, who talks about how to prevent damaging family break-ups down the track.
- [Better than a cure](https://twowishes.org/better-than-a-cure/) - Two Wishes International CEO Dr David Curl talks about preventing harm to children and families when parents separate.
- [Videos to help the whole family feel better!](https://twowishes.org/videos-to-help-all-the-family/) - With over half a million subscribers, Braincraft provides information and advice for children and young people as well as adults.
- [Quilt for missing grandkids](https://twowishes.org/quilt-for-missing-grandkids/) - UK support group completes quilt in honour of much-loved grandchildren whom their grandparents are unable to see - in some cases, for years.“In February 2020," Bristol Grandparents Support Group member, Susan Cramer, says, "I sent out a call asking grandparents to contribute a patchwork square or two for a quilt I wanted to make to
- [Black kids' lives matter too](https://twowishes.org/black-kids-lives-matter-too/) - 17 March 2021: "In the reckoning on racism triggered by George Floyd’s killing, decades of complaints from Black families hurt by the child welfare system are bubbling over into public protest," co-director of the New York University School of Law Family Defense Clinic, Chris Gottlieb writes in Time magazine. "Outraged calls for racial justice have come to
- [Make a donation](https://twowishes.org/donations/) - We are a non-profit organisation, relying upon volunteers around the world to change the world for the better. Please support our work, and make a donation, if you can. Thank you. Our next fund-raising campaign will take place with the launch of our first TV ad in June 2021. We'll post details here.If you'd like
- [Just another family law report](https://twowishes.org/another-australian-family-law-report/) - Another Australian government review of family law is coming to an end - the latest of nearly 70 reviews, reports or investigations into a 45-year-old piece of legislation, the Family Law Act 1975. The Joint Select Committee on Australia's Family Law System tabled its principal recommendations in the Australian Parliament on 15 March 2021, having
- [Have we forgotten how to parent?](https://twowishes.org/forgotten-how-to-parent/) - In her book, "Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans", Michaeleen Doucleff makes an entertaining and convincing case: we've forgotten how to parent! In a feature in TIME magazine, she describes how what she saw in a Maya village, nestled in the Yucatan
- [For children](https://twowishes.org/for-children/) - Then learn about your powers. There’s Brain power, Body power, Voice power. And there’s Mouth closed power, Listening power … and many more. This one’s good: It’s "Get Help Power". And here’s another illustration, with Irene van der Sande: And this one: Cool things about you … Is that what you’d write to your Mum
- [Israel: Innovative family support](https://twowishes.org/israel-innovative-family-support/) - Providing support for children and families experiencing separation in Israel, In-between (balev.org) fills an enormous gap in the support available for vulnerable families at one of the most critical times in their lives. In-between (Bein Le Vein in Hebrew) is a non-profit organization founded with the goal of supporting children and families undergoing divorce and
- [A court that solves problems?!](https://twowishes.org/a-court-that-solves-problems/) - The UK's Family Drug and Alcohol Courts are one model for dealing with family and social problems in a better way. They are designed to be not adversarial, but supportive and problem-solving instead. Evidence indicates that FDAC gets much better results than when parents go to court in normal care proceedings. A research study at
- [UK invests in families](https://twowishes.org/uk-invests-in-families/) - 10 January 2021: UK Government invests £11 million in families - to help protect children from harm during the COVID pandemic, promote healthier relationships between parents and help children get the best possible start in life. Families suffering from substance abuse, experiencing financial pressures and other challenges will be able to seek help via the
- [Childhood: when the wheels fall off ...](https://twowishes.org/childhood-romania/) - A touching, short Romanian video about childhood.
- [Why we're here](https://twowishes.org/our-vision/) - Our Vision A world where all children have positive relationships, through life’s changes, with all who love and care for them. Welcome to Two Wishes, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the wellbeing of children and families and to reimagining family breakdown, for the sake of our kids. Our primary focus is on one of the
- [We represent young people](https://twowishes.org/young-peoples-voices/) - “I used to think that every child got three wishes. But my very first wish - to grow up in a happy family - did not come true. My second wish was to spend as much time as possible with each of my parents and everyone who loved and cared for me. But that didn’t
- [We present solutions](https://twowishes.org/explore-the-world/) - The issues that Two Wishes is focused on know no national borders. The desire for our children to grow up in a happy home, and to have the best chances in life, is universal. But, the ways in which we value our children and families - and how we deal with family breakdown, in particular
- [We present evidence](https://twowishes.org/science-and-art/) - Evidence comes in many forms. Science, Art and Voices of young people each have their own power to help us understand what's best for our children and families. On this site, you will find summaries of the latest scientific research that shows us what's best for the health, safety and wellbeing of children. And you'll
- [Healthy family relationships](https://twowishes.org/healthy-family-relationships/) - "Healthier and Happier Schools, Homes and Communities: One Important Relationship at a Time" "I Matter" is a UK program that specialises in helping professionals and parents who have had a worry about a child for more than nine months and who have tried all sorts of things that haven't yet worked. By refocusing on the health
- [Criminals treated better than parents!](https://twowishes.org/criminals-treated-better-than-parents/) - 26 February 2021: this editorial in the Washington Post highlights the profound injustice of family law, particularly in many States in the USA: "You can lose your kids, home and freedom without ever seeing a lawyer." "It’s a given that criminal defendants in the United States are entitled to legal representation, free of charge if they
- [Reducing Parental Conflict](https://twowishes.org/reducing-parental-conflict/) - 10 Feb 2021: Outstanding UK presentations showing a wide range of much earlier support/interventions than so many vulnerable families experience today. Details from all these projects will be shared here in our 2040 vision section (see e.g. Freud's family legacy) - ideas that will help make a better future for our children.Wednesday 10th February 2021 #ReducingParentalConflict
- [NZ has a plan!](https://twowishes.org/new-zealand-has-a-plan/) - New Zealand has a plan that puts child and youth wellbeing at the centre of Government policy. It's just the sort of holistic, pro-active, whole-of-government approach that would benefit children in so many more countries.
- [Two Wishes international campaign launch](https://twowishes.org/two-wishes-campaign-launch/) - 1 January 2021: The Two Wishes Foundation today launches its international campaign to transform how we all view, and deal with, family separation and divorce - so that children, in future, will no longer be harmed by the processes we accept today. #ChildrensRights #ForKidsSake You can see some of our work and what we've already
- [Compassion comes to court!](https://twowishes.org/welcome-to-the-mental-health-court/) - US judges bring compassion to Scottish courtrooms and pioneer a new approach to decision-making focused on helping rather than punishing. "It's literally taking a criminal court and turning it inside out, and instead of looking to punish, looking to help. That's the innovation of problem solving courts and the application of procedural justice." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47528102
- [Quotes - separation](https://twowishes.org/quotes-separation/) - “I always have a stomach-ache at school on Friday. I don’t know if they’ll fight again when Dad picks me up.”Maja, 8 “When I walk away from mum, I feel sad. Then, when I walk away from dad I’m sad too. I am almost always sad now.” Max, 9 “I am ashamed when
- [Another family murder-suicide](https://twowishes.org/murder-suicide/) - 22 January 2021: Another murder-suicide has just taken place, this time in West Virginia, USA, with five children being shot by their mother, who then turned the gun on herself. Each time this happens, we trot out the same words - "unimaginable", "unspeakable", "unconscionable" - but, tragically, we do little to address the root causes
- [Don't just look, get involved!](https://twowishes.org/get-involved/) - The Two Wishes Foundation believes that every child should have the opportunity to grow up in a healthy family environment, even when families change or break-up. Children need to develop the best possible, lifelong relationships with all who love and care for them. If you share our vision, please consider endorsing our aims, making a
- [How separation harms kids' brains](https://twowishes.org/separation-harms-kids-brains/)
- [The Science of Co-parenting](https://twowishes.org/coparenting-science/) - The jury is in. In fact, it's been in for a long while: most children do much better in life if they maintain and develop good relationships with both of their parents after a family break-up. The 2020 International Conference on Shared Parenting, held online, brought together experts in family violence and shared parenting who
- [The impact of family breakdown](https://twowishes.org/childhood/) - There is an increasing amount of research into the impact of family breakdown on children. The Australian Institute of Family Studies has collated a number of the most recent studies here. Though the conclusions of individual studies vary considerably, children exposed to a family breakdown generally do significantly worse than children in intact families on a
- [Endorse our vision](https://twowishes.org/endorse-us/) - If you or your organisation supports our vision and aims, please sign up here. It doesn't involve any more work than that! We want to be able show decision-makers how many people endorse this vision for the future. Simply send us an email: I ...... (name) of ...... (organization/town/country) support the Vision and Aims of Two
- [Rosy's Voice](https://twowishes.org/rosys-voice/)
- [Voices](https://twowishes.org/voices/)
- [Two Wishes ratings](https://twowishes.org/two-wishes-ratings/) - Two Wishes has developed a rating system for pilot schemes, programs and initiatives that rates them according to health value for children and families. To get the maximum, five stars, a project must, among other things: Provide valuable information, help or support;Act with an urgent focus on maximising health outcomes;Have an inbuilt, pro-active mechanism for

## Pages

- [Get Help: USA](https://twowishes.org/get-help-usa/) - call for any issue Teen Line (US & Canada) 800-852-8336 teenlineonline.org We are a non-profit, community based organization that provides emotional support to youth. Teen Line is a confidential hotline which operates every evening from 6:00pm to 10:00pm PST. If you have a problem or just want to talk with another teen who understands, then this is
- [](https://twowishes.org/voices/) - Just Two Wishes ... Here's what children from around the world said when asked by Children International what they'd do with just two wishes - one for humanity, one for themselves ... “For me, I want my family to always be together and also to go to the moon. For the world, I want peace.”
- [](https://twowishes.org/vision/) - The Two Wishes Foundation protects children exposed to family breakdown by building healthier families and transforming how we all think about, and deal with, family breakdown, separation and divorce.
- [](https://twowishes.org/get-help/) - When you need a helping hand, we're here to provide practical advice. Getting Help Wherever you are in the world, and whether you’re a young person experiencing trouble at home, a parent who doesn’t know what to do during a marriage break-up, or a professional wanting to make sure you’ve got the experience and qualifications you need to
- [](https://twowishes.org/achievements/) - A Minister for Children Australia had never before had a national Minister for Children. But, back in 2017, we began lobbying the Australian federal Parliament to create one. It was an essential step, we argued, towards getting pro-active, child-focused policies, instead of too many reactive, too-late interventions. We met with 25% of all politicians from
- [](https://twowishes.org/young-ambassadors/) - Two Wishes is driven by the voices and wishes of young people. You can read Rosy’s words that crystallise the essence of Two Wishes and listen to the voices of many more children, and those now adult, who wish to transform the world as all at Two Wishes do. We’ll publish details, here,
- [](https://twowishes.org/quotes/) - What young people say about family court systems Young people on family separation and divorceMore quotes
- [Who we are](https://twowishes.org/who-we-are/) - Executive Team Young Ambassadors Advisory Boards International representatives Australia: Rene A First Nations elder from Kulpitjara, Ernabella, Amata and Mutitjulu in Central Australia, Rene Kulitja is an internationally acclaimed artist whose designs have travelled the world on canvas and other media, including the exterior of a Qantas aeroplane. She is passionate about the wellbeing and
- [Advisory Boards](https://twowishes.org/advisory-boards/) - Family & Community Convenor: JJ The Family and Community Advisory Board provides input into what measures and pilot schemes can best be implemented in local communities, as well as factors that help everyone deal with changes in their families with compassion. Schools Convenor: KK This panel provides advice on what measures can be effectively implemented
- [Aims](https://twowishes.org/aims/) - You can help: endorse our Vision and Aims! If you or your organisation support our Vision and Aims, please let us know. Simply send us an email: “I …(name)… of … (organisation/town/country) … support the Vision and Aims of the Two Wishes Foundation.” NameQualifications/organisation (if any)Suburb, State, Country It’s as easy as that to help
- [First Nations](https://twowishes.org/first-nations/)
- [What we do](https://twowishes.org/what-we-do/) - International research Looking differently, with an evidence-based approach, at how different countries promote and support the wellbeing of children and families. Carrying out research locally in multiple countries, and online, into what support is available or needed for families and children and into world's best practices for achieving the best outcomes for children and their
- [Executive Team](https://twowishes.org/executive-team/) - David CEO Media and Communication Advisory Board David Curl, MA (Oxf) PhD (Monash) Father, film-maker, scientist and writer, David’s career bridges art and science. An award-winning cinematographer, director and producer, he has created and worked on numerous international films, produced media for TV, radio, print and online, and worked in science and wildlife conservation. He
- [UK](https://twowishes.org/uk/)
- [](https://twowishes.org/childhood-matters/) - Videos about what matters most to children and young people - and about some things thatadults may have forgotten about childhood.
- [Our work](https://twowishes.org/our-work/)
- [Contact Us](https://twowishes.org/contact-us/)
- [Young people](https://twowishes.org/young-people/) - Convenor: RS The voices and experiences of young people lie at the core of the work and philosophy of the Two Wishes Foundation. This international Advisory Board provides fundamental input to our policy development as well as greater understanding of the impact on children of different family circumstances. Extracts of what children and young people
- [](https://twowishes.org/espanol/) - Dos Deseos Familias Sanas. Para la vida. Porque no todos los niños obtienen su primer deseo. “Solía pensar que cada niño tiene tres deseos. Pero mi primer deseo, crecer en una familia feliz, no se hizo realidad. Mi segundo deseo era pasar el mayor tiempo posible con cada uno de mis padres y con todos los
- [](https://twowishes.org/francais/) - "J'avais l'habitude de penser que chaque enfant avait trois souhaits. Mais mon tout premier souhait - grandir dans une famille heureuse - ne s'est pas réalisé. Mon deuxième souhait était de passer le plus de temps possible avec chacun de mes parents et avec tous ceux qui m'aimaient et prenaient soin de moi. Cela ne s’est
- [](https://twowishes.org/deutsch/) - Zwei Wünsche Gesunde Familien. Für das Leben.Weil nicht alle Kinder ihren ersten Wunsch erfüllt bekommen. "Früher dachte ich, dass jedes Kind drei Wünsche hat. Aber mein allererster Wunsch - in einer glücklichen Familie aufzuwachsen - ging nicht in Erfüllung. Mein zweiter Wunsch war es, so viel Zeit wie möglich mit jedem meiner Eltern und mit allen
- [](https://twowishes.org/עִברִית/) - שתי משאלות .משפחות בריאות. לכל החיים כי לא כל ילד מקבל את המשאלה הראשונה שלו החזון עולם שבו לכל ילדה ולכל ילד יחסים חיוביים,.גם בזמן של כל השינויים בחייו, עם כל מי שאוהב אותו ודואג לו ברוך הבא לשתי משאלות, ארגון בינלאומי ללא כוונת רווח, המוקדש לרווחתם של ילדים ומשפחותיהם, ולקידום דרכים בטוחות ובריאות לסייע
- [](https://twowishes.org/print-media/) - Throughout 2018-2020, the print media coverage we have generated in Australia has highlighted such key issues as the need to treat family breakdown as an urgent health issue; the harm caused to children by our current approach; the lack of professional competence, feedback and scrutiny inherent in existing systems; and the possible link between family
- [](https://twowishes.org/nederlands/) - “Ik dacht altijd dat elk kind drie wensen had. Maar mijn allereerste wens - opgroeien in een gelukkig gezin - kwam niet uit. Mijn tweede wens was om zoveel mogelijk tijd door te brengen met mijn beide ouders en met iedereen die van me hield en voor me zorgde. Dat is ook niet uitgekomen. Mijn derde wens,
- [](https://twowishes.org/中文/) - 两个愿望(基金会) 健康的家庭，一生一世。 “我曾经以为每个孩子都有三个愿望。 但是我最初的愿望-在一个幸福的家庭中成长-未能实现。 我的第二个愿望是与父母和所有爱护我的人尽可能多地在一起。 那也没有实现。 我决心实现我的第三个愿望：确保发生在我身上的事情-在本来打算帮助我的系统中迷失的童年-永远不会发生在其他任何孩子身上。” Rosy 愿景 为‌‌所‌有的‌孩‌子创‌造一个有着积极人际关系的世界：在其经受生活变故时，帮助他们与每一位爱护和关心的人维持‌良好的关‌系‌。 欢迎来到 “两个愿望”， 一个致力于儿童和家庭福祉的国际公益组织。我们的重点关注对象是处于压力和危机中经历家庭分裂中的儿童，他们是分布最广且得到最少关注的弱势儿童群体。 孩子与父母及照顾者所发展的关系对于他们未来的幸福至关重要。然而，在当‌今‌许‌多‌国‌家‌，为‌支‌持‌儿‌童‌建立牢固和健‌康‌的家‌庭‌关‌系‌所‌制‌定‌的‌干‌预‌措‌施‌往‌往‌太‌少‌或‌为‌时‌已‌晚。我们甚至创建了太晚，太长时间和不合适的干预措施，更有甚者，由于‌采取的干预措‌施因执行的过晚、拖延太久、或‌‌缺乏技‌能，往往对已‌经受‌打击‌的‌儿‌童‌和‌脆弱的家‌庭‌带来‌‌更‌大‌的‌伤‌害。“两个愿望” 认为我们需要更早地进行更多方面的干预，‌相信这样做不仅可以节省经济资源甚至能挽救宝贵的生命。 在‌现有‌陈‌旧‌系‌统下长大的孩子们， 往往未能满足其在健‌康‌幸‌福‌的‌家‌庭‌中‌成‌长的“第‌一‌愿‌望”。在他们迫切的心声和意愿的驱‌动‌下，‌我‌们‌现‌将‌全‌球‌各‌地‌的‌专‌家‌及‌父‌母‌聚‌集‌在‌一‌起‌，‌共‌同‌创‌造‌并‌推‌广‌当‌代‌社‌会‌急需‌‌的‌更‌好‌措‌施‌，‌积‌极‌分‌享‌来‌自‌全‌球各地‌的‌最‌佳‌创‌意‌、‌方‌式‌、‌试‌点‌计‌划‌和‌政‌策。‌我‌们‌正‌在‌发‌起‌一‌项‌国‌际‌公‌众‌意‌识‌运‌动‌，‌着‌重‌强‌调‌每‌个‌人‌都‌可‌以‌来‌帮‌助‌弱‌势‌儿‌童‌和‌家‌庭‌，‌并‌为‌他‌们‌创‌建‌最‌美‌好‌的‌未‌来。 请加入我们不断壮大的国际团队，成为支持者，捐助者或工作者，为我们的共同目标提供帮助。 背景 多年来，我们一直将2020年视为未来的象征。作为决策者的目标和有远见者的梦想。 但2020年初始有一个出乎意料的情况：措手不及的冠状病毒给我们带来了全球性的威胁。在随之而来的封锁和全世界成千上万的家庭孤立的情况下，我们意识到这个需求也许比其他任何需求更为迫切：家庭的重要性和维持家庭关系的重要性。 “两个愿望基金会” 创立于针对这场全球范围内国际危机的反省，即各种形式的家庭分居对儿童造成的痛苦和伤害。这场危机提醒我们无论何时何地都必须在经济政策的核心中有一项针对儿童和家庭福祉的计划。在整个2020年中，许多儿童置身于不安全的家庭环境中。更多的孩子与祖父母及关爱他们的亲人隔离，甚至有更多的孩子与他们的父亲或母亲分离，导致这些亲密关系恶化甚至丧失。 我们这个全球慈善事业独立于任何宗教，政党或专业机构，专注于帮助各种形式组合的家庭。它旨在确保所有儿童的健康成长，并从与爱护和关心他们的人所建立的最佳和最牢固的联系中受益。 我们的成员来自不同国家，不同专业, 不同年龄的各届人士。他们包括儿童福祉，家庭健康，心理学，土著文化，家庭法，科学和媒体方面的专家，以及这些时常被我们忘记的服务对象：儿童和年轻人，亦是他们自己所面临问题的专家。 我们每个人都拥有对未来的展望，希望所有的儿童不管家庭生活带来什么变故，都可以在最幸福最健康的环境中茁壮成长。我们希望在这里提供有科学证据的，由艺术性来启发和感召，由年轻人表达的心声愿望，使我们拥抱对于2040年的展望，愿每个孩子都拥有一个健康的家庭，一生一世。 目标 您可以认可我们的愿景和目标的方式来提供帮助！如果您或您的组织和机构支持我们的宗旨，请通过与我们联系。帮助我们帮助世界各地的儿童和家庭是如此简单！ 电子邮件格式： ● “本人（姓名）……（组织/城镇/国家）的……支持 “两个愿望基金会” 的愿景和宗旨。” ● 姓名 / 联系方式 ● 资历 / 及相关组织 ● 市，州，国家 如果您想用自己的语言阅读整个网页，请单击页面顶部菜单中的相应标志。我们有时会采用自动翻译，因此可能并不完美，但我们希望它们能让您了解大致的信息。感谢您访问我们的网站！
- [](https://twowishes.org/kiswahili/) - “Nilikuwa nikifikiri kwamba kila mtoto alipata matakwa matatu. Lakini hamu yangu ya kwanza - kukua katika familia yenye furaha - haikutimia. Tamaa yangu ya pili ilikuwa kutumia wakati mwingi iwezekanavyo na wazazi wangu wote na na kila mtu ambaye alinipenda na kunijali. Hiyo haikutimia pia. Nia yangu ya tatu, nimeamua, itatimia: kuhakikisha kwamba kile kilichonipata - utoto
- [](https://twowishes.org/عربى/) - كنت أعتقد أن كل طفل يحصل على ثلاث أمنيات. لكن أمنيتي الأولى - أن أنشأ في أسرة سعيدة - لم تتحقق كانت أمنيتي الثانية هي قضاء أكبر وقت ممكن مع كل من والديّ وكل من أحبني ورعايته. هذا لم يتحقق أيضا أمنيتي الثالثة ، أنا مصمم ، سوف تتحقق: للتأكد من أن ما حدث لي
- [](https://twowishes.org/हिंदी/) - “मैं सोचता था कि हर बच्चे को तीन इच्छाएँ मिलती हैं। लेकिन मेरी पहली इच्छा - एक खुश परिवार में बड़े होने की - सच नहीं हुई। मेरी दूसरी इच्छा अपने माता-पिता और हर किसी के साथ जितना संभव हो सके उतना समय बिताना था, जो मेरे लिए प्यार और परवाह करते थे। यह सच
- [](https://twowishes.org/happy-families/) - Videos and quotes about happy, healthy family life
- [](https://twowishes.org/about/) - The Two Wishes Foundation protects children exposed to family breakdown by building healthier families and transforming how we all think about, and deal with, family breakdown, separation and divorce.
- [](https://twowishes.org/polskie/) - „Kiedyś myślałam, że każde dziecko ma trzy życzenia. Ale moje pierwsze życzenie – dorastać w szczęśliwej rodzinie – nie spełniło się. Moim drugim życzeniem było przebywanie jak najwięcej czasu z obojgiem rodziców i wszystkimi, którzy mnie kochają i na których mi zależy. To też się nie spełniło. Jestem zdeterminowana, aby moje trzecie życzenie się spełniło: upewnić się,
- [Elementor #2835](https://twowishes.org/elementor-2835/) - Your Logo Facebook-f Twitter Google-plus-g Envelope Get Help Book A Room Enjoy Some You-Time I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More Add Your Heading Text Here For parents and families The
- [Family and community](https://twowishes.org/family-and-community/) - Convenor: JJ, UK This Advisory Board provides input into what measures and pilot schemes can best be implemented in local communities, as well as factors that help everyone deal with changes in their families with compassion.
- [Law and justice](https://twowishes.org/law-and-justice/) - Convenor: Philip Marcus, Israel
- [Media and Communication](https://twowishes.org/media-and-communication/) - Convenor: David Curl, Australia
- [Schools](https://twowishes.org/schools/) - Convenor: Karen Clarke, Australia
- [Collaborative practices](https://twowishes.org/collaborative-practices/) - Convenor: LH
- [Health, safety and wellbeing](https://twowishes.org/health-safety-and-wellbeing/) - Convenor: Nick Child
- [Donation Confirmation](https://twowishes.org/donation-confirmation/) - [give_receipt]
- [Donation Failed](https://twowishes.org/donation-failed/) - We're sorry, your donation failed to process. Please try again or contact site support.

## Campaigns

- [Two Wishes Campaign](https://twowishes.org/campaigns/two-wishes-campaign/)

## Categories

- [News](https://twowishes.org/category/news/)
- [Art](https://twowishes.org/category/art/) - Changing hearts and minds In our Art category, you’ll find illustrations, films, songs, poetry, plays, paintings and other forms of art that help provide a deeper understanding of people’s experiences of family life – of how people are affected and moved, in all sorts of ways, by their personal experiences and, often, driven to share their thoughts with spontaneous or carefully choreographed, artistic endeavours. While scientific evidence is essential for creating evidence-based policies, it’s often art that provides the emotional engagement that deepens understanding and motivates action in those who’ve not otherwise had experiences of their own. Watch a 2-minute film from Iran, a play from the UK, a song from the USA, or a full-length feature film from Germany. Each, in its own way, tells a powerful story – of compassion or sorrow or of the intricacies of family life and how to make decisions when parents move apart. Together, they build a compelling argument for change – for a more compassionate, understanding and humane approach to a universal issue: how do we best look after children when the nature of their families changes.
- [Videos](https://twowishes.org/category/videos/)
- [World](https://twowishes.org/category/world/)
- [Get Involved](https://twowishes.org/category/get-involved/) - Helping create change Please, get involved! Wherever you are, whatever you do, you can help us create the changes needed to help protect children in some of our most vulnerable families. Especially in the aftermath of COVID-19, many families around the world are under extreme emotional and financial stress. Now, of all times, our families need greater support and compassion. If you’d like to become involved with the work of the Two Wishes Foundation, please contact us anytime. We need help with research, fund-raising and a wide range of activities that anyone can contribute to. We also need people to write to their local newspapers and political representatives to help motivate change: governments around the world need to put Child and Family Wellbeing at the top of their priorities at all times, not only in a public health crisis that’s obvious to everyone. We need policies that pro-actively help children and their families, not just policies for reacting and intervening when it’s too late. Education and early intervention are so much better than trying to repair damage that’s already been done; prevention is so much better (not to mention, so much cheaper) than cure. Politicians, legislators, and other decision-makers need to hear from everyone if they’re to act and make the changes our kids and families so desperately need. Throughout this site, you’ll find the evidence and solutions that decision-makers need to hear. So, please share what you can – on social media, in mainstream media and with key influencers and decision-makers who can really make a difference. Thank you.
- [Evidence](https://twowishes.org/category/evidence/) - Discovering what’s best for kids In few, if any, parts of the world is our approach to family breakdown, or to dealing with families in crisis, based on actual scientific evidence of what’s best for children and families. Too often, we impose too-late ‘interventions’ instead of offering up-front, accessible support and education. Far too often, these interventions are based on a legal approach – family law – which is not the appropriate tool if we’re aiming to look after the health and wellbeing of our children. In fact, not only are such legal interventions too late and not appropriate, but, they’re actually harmful to the very children and families they’re supposed to protect. In this section, Evidence, you can access a wide range of information, including the results of some of the best scientific research from around the globe. We will review the available research and data and tell you what statistics you can rely on. In a field often dominated by ideology rather than scientific evidence – by actively promoted ‘fake news’, if you will – we’ll try to help sort the wheat from the chaff. If you know of better evidence, or more recent research, you’re welcome to share it with us too.
- [Family Court](https://twowishes.org/category/family-court/)
- [Programs](https://twowishes.org/category/2040-vision/programs/)
- [Professionals](https://twowishes.org/category/support/professionals/)
- [Parents](https://twowishes.org/category/support/parents/)
- [Young people](https://twowishes.org/category/support/young-people/)
- [Help](https://twowishes.org/category/support/)
- [Children](https://twowishes.org/category/support/children/)
- [Australia](https://twowishes.org/category/world/australia/)
- [USA](https://twowishes.org/category/world/usa/)
- [Solutions](https://twowishes.org/category/2040-vision/solutions/)
- [2040 Vision](https://twowishes.org/category/2040-vision/) - Reimagining the future Two Wishes has a vision where all children are able to enjoy their childhood and free to develop the best possible relationships with all who love and care for them, whatever changes life brings to their families. From the evidence presented throughout this site – the science, the art and the lived-experiences of young people – the case for a fresh approach to the issue of family breakdown is clear. Fortunately, many of the solutions already exist, in some form or another, somewhere around the globe. In this section, we bring together some of these best examples of education; better, more accessible support for families; early interventions; pilot schemes; and programs that, together, provide a very different approach to looking after some of our most vulnerable families from the damaging, often uncompassionate, approaches accepted today in so many countries. It requires us to do nothing less than “reimagine family breakdown” if we are to ensure that children are not harmed, as they so often are today, when families transition or change. In fact, it requires us almost to “reimagine family” – as a living network of interconnected and loving relationships with a child at its centre. We call this our “2040 vision” because we are realistic. We realise that learning to treat family breakdown primarily as a health, not a legal, issue will not happen overnight. Indeed, it may take many years for such a paradigm shift to take place in just one or two countries. But, once the benefits are seen, others will follow. Everyone can help. By sharing information from this site and helping others understand the urgent need for major change, for the sake of all our kids, you can help us make sure that our 2040 arrives as early as possible.
- [Belgium](https://twowishes.org/category/world/belgium/)
- [Sweden](https://twowishes.org/category/world/sweden/)
- [UK](https://twowishes.org/category/world/uk/)
- [Germany](https://twowishes.org/category/world/germany/)
- [About](https://twowishes.org/category/about/)
- [Two Wishes](https://twowishes.org/category/two-wishes/)
- [People](https://twowishes.org/category/about/people/)
- [Family](https://twowishes.org/category/family/)
- [Voices](https://twowishes.org/category/voices/)
- [Policy](https://twowishes.org/category/2040-vision/policy/)
- [Court Reform](https://twowishes.org/category/2040-vision/court-reform/)
- [Israel](https://twowishes.org/category/world/israel/)
- [Blog](https://twowishes.org/category/blog/)
- [Reform](https://twowishes.org/category/family-court/reform-family-court/)
- [Rating](https://twowishes.org/category/rating/)
- [⭐⭐⭐](https://twowishes.org/category/rating/⭐⭐⭐/)
- [⭐⭐](https://twowishes.org/category/rating/⭐⭐/)
- [⭐](https://twowishes.org/category/rating/⭐/)
- [⭐⭐⭐⭐](https://twowishes.org/category/rating/⭐⭐⭐⭐/)
- [Iran](https://twowishes.org/category/world/iran/)
- [Play](https://twowishes.org/category/art/play/)
- [Movie](https://twowishes.org/category/art/movie/)
- [Short film](https://twowishes.org/category/art/short-film/)
- [TV ad](https://twowishes.org/category/art/tv-ad/)
- [Factual film](https://twowishes.org/category/art/factual-film/)
- [Factual TV](https://twowishes.org/category/art/factual-tv/)
- [Song](https://twowishes.org/category/art/song/)
- [Education](https://twowishes.org/category/2040-vision/education/)
- [Romania](https://twowishes.org/category/world/romania/)
- [Voices](https://twowishes.org/category/evidence/voices-evidence/)
- [Science](https://twowishes.org/category/evidence/science/)
- [First Nations](https://twowishes.org/category/first-nations/)
- [India](https://twowishes.org/category/world/india/)
- [Pakistan](https://twowishes.org/category/world/pakistan-world/)
- [Greece](https://twowishes.org/category/world/greece/)
- [Ukraine](https://twowishes.org/category/world/ukraine/)
- [Norway](https://twowishes.org/category/world/norway-world/)
- [Malta](https://twowishes.org/category/world/malta/)
- [Media](https://twowishes.org/category/news/media/)
- [Opinion](https://twowishes.org/category/opinion/)
- [Europe](https://twowishes.org/category/world/europe/)
- [Scotland](https://twowishes.org/category/world/scotland/)
- [China](https://twowishes.org/category/world/china/)
- [New Zealand](https://twowishes.org/category/world/new-zealand/)
- [History](https://twowishes.org/category/evidence/history/)

## Tags

- [parental care](https://twowishes.org/tag/parental-care/)
- [paternal care](https://twowishes.org/tag/paternal-care/)
- [anthropology](https://twowishes.org/tag/anthropology/)