The Myth Of No Big Deal
Healing From The Overlooked Impact Of Later-Life Divorce On Adult Children And Families
Self-Empowerment
By:
Wendy Fisher House, Ph.D.
Coming Soon!
When parents divorce later in life, the world often shrugs: They’re grown. It’s no big deal. But for adult children—and for the family as a whole—it can be a seismic shift.
We have all known families who had young children when the parents divorced. We knew there would be disruption and heartache. We knew it would be hard going for a while. We hoped that, over time and with favorable circumstances, family members would move past the pain and find new ways to be happy and feel connected.
But how many of us know people who were already adults when their parents divorced? Probably a lot of us. We just aren’t aware of it because adult children of divorce don’t talk about it much. Even when they identify themselves, we likely assume they had it easier and were less impacted because they were already adults when it happened. Right? Wrong!!
This book is appropriate for adult children, parents, families, and professionals working with clients impacted by later-life divorce.
Organized into five accessible parts, this comprehensive guide explores:
The cultural and developmental context of “gray divorce”
Why parents divorce later in life—and what they may not see about its ripple effects
How an adult child’s age and life stage influence grief, loyalty conflicts, and identity
Essential tools for navigating boundaries, compassion, anger, and healing
Practical pathways toward new parent-child relationships and new family formations that may be healthier than those left behind.
Through vivid case examples and clearly explained concepts, readers will recognize their own families in these pages—and find language for experiences that often go unnamed.
Whether you are a parent considering divorce, an adult child struggling to make sense of it, or a professional supporting families in transition, The Myth of No Big Deal offers wisdom, validation, and actionable guidance. Thoughtfully organized and rich with takeaways, it is both a roadmap and a reassurance: families can redefine themselves with honesty, respect, and even renewed connection.
Because it is a big deal—and with understanding and intention, it can also become a turning point toward deeper healing.
“Kudos to House for offering thoughtful recommendations for successful adaptations to an often unforeseen family rupture… Clinicians and the general public will be enriched and enlightened by this timely investigation. Read it and pass it on to a friend.”
Barbara S. Cain, Author of Autism, The Invisible Cord, A Sibling’s Diary; Silver Medal Winner, Mom’s Choice Award.
“For adult children and their divorcing parents, this book will be revelatory and immensely helpful.”
Carol Tavris, Ph.D., Social Psychologist and Author of Mistakes were Made (but not by me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions and Hurtful Acts and Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion.
“The Myth of No Big Deal is a major contribution to the field of family science, uncovering the many, nuanced ways that later-life divorce of parents impacts their adult children and the family system.”
Barbara M. Newman, Ph.D., Developmental Psychologist and Philip R. Newman, Ph.D., Social and Community Psychologist, Co-authors of Development through Life: A Psychosocial Approach and Theories of Human Development.