My best friend (mother of my 3yo goddaughter( is going through a nasty divorce and obviously things are very rocky at the mo. I am concerned though that (though my friend is a brilliant mother, i am not criticising ) she has started to often break down and cry in front of her daughter. The worst occasion was a couple of days ago when i recieved a hysterical phone call from my friend, sobbing and crying, and i could hear her daughter in the background saying, 'Mummy, mummy..."
I know anyone can break down and I know she is going through a huge amount of stress but I just feel very strongly that it is not ok to cry like that in front of your kids. It must be very frightening for her daughter to see her mum like that. And actually, though I know the stress is a build-up, on this occasion there was nothing that should have prompted the hysterical tears.
I am not underestimating the horror of a divorce but surely it is not right to break down in front of a tiny child...? And how can I put this to my friend without her feeling that i am judging and criticising her? I feel a responsibility to my goddaughter and it was unbearably upsetting to hear her in the b/g while her mother sobbed down the phone.