Guest Author - Kelli Deister
How to Go to Visitation without Throwing Up, written by Joshua Shane Evans and his Step-mother, is a book for children. It is specifically for children that must go on visitations with one of their parents, whether locally or long distance.
The authors, Joshua Shane Evans and his step-mother, have brilliantly put together a book of writings that touch on several different subjects and topics. They have created lists of activities to do while traveling, as well as ideas for games during travel time. With the ideas for traveling, they also provide examples through experience. Joshua Shane Evans writes about times that he has traveled with other children that were also going to visitation with a parent and how the traveling children made new friendships.
Among my favorite sections in this book are the “Travel Safety” and “Trip Information” lists. The authors created lists for the child to fill out with necessary information that will help them, as well as providing needed information for those helping the child during travel time. Another favorite of mine are the riddles contained in this book. I would imagine that the riddles can help to break the ice when meeting new friends on the plane while traveling.
On a more serious note, Joshua Shane Evans writes about things he was afraid of and then continues on to list what the chances are of those things occurring. He writes about how to stop worrying about things, especially those things that are out of your control. The author touches on topics such as feelings, fears, and worries that children going to visitations might face. Lastly, the authors write on the subject of how a child might feel when both parents do not get along or how they may jump to conclusions when the child reveals something that happened which they didn’t like.
The most important part of this book is how the young author helps other children through his writings. He helps them to know that they are not alone. I encourage every parent going through a divorce to purchase this book for their child. While this book does not speak directly on the topic of child abuse, the child that has been abused and must go to visitation with the abusive parent can greatly benefit from this book. As I wrote of earlier, the authors provide a safety section that can include safety issues for the child going to visitation with an abusive parent. The child abuse victim will also benefit from the sections that list feelings and emotions which they might be experiencing.
This book is a must-have for every child dealing with visitation issues. It will serve as a type of self-help book for children.
