Lesson 6 123 Copyright 2018 Marline E. Pearson 4. Get perspective. Many people go through a number of romances. This is part of life. With each relationship you can grow wiser and more insightful about yourself, what you are looking for, and how a relationship should be. Talking with a caring, older person who has more life under their belt might give you some valuable perspective. 5. Don’t jump quickly into another relationship. Some people hop into another relationship right away to make their ex-partner jealous or to make themselves feel better. This only leads to more problems and is not good if you have a child. Give yourself time. Identify what you want to work on and do for yourself. 6. Get out and do things. After you’ve given yourself time to cry, get busy. Don’t wallow in self-pity. Shoot baskets or kick a ball go walking, biking, or fishing. Take up a hobby. Get outside. Sunshine and the outdoors can be healing. Getting active will make you feel better and put you in a position to meet new people. Call friends and make plans. 7. Remember, things get better with time. Caution: If you’re still depressed and crying months later, talk to a parent, a trusted adult, or a school counselor who can help you deal with your emotions and gain perspective. Point out that most couples go through difficult times now and then:  When a relationship is healthy and safe, parents and children benefit when parents stay together. It is worth the work to get through the tough times.  On the other hand, sometimes a person knows the relationship he or she is in has no future, yet the relationship drags on and on. This is a type of sliding.  On again, off again relationships are really hard on children. They are also associated with more domestic violence and unplanned pregnancies.  If you know the relationship has no future, it may be best to make a clear decision about ending it. Children do better with one stable parent than with unstable and/or dangerous parental relationships. Tips for Parents