Two Times as Much Love
A Separation and Divorce Story for Parents and Children
by Eileen Beltzner

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A parent-child read-together story, Two Times as Much Love also includes a mindful self-compassion tool box with simple practices to grow mindfulness, self-kindness and inner strength. One day, out of the blue, Alexander’s parents announce they are getting divorced — not from Alexander, but from each other. Because of Alexander’s already short fuse and an unrelenting, unfair playlist that keeps running inside his head, his temper flares one day and gets the best of him. Unfortunately, one day he makes a regretful, awful big mistake at his new school. He loses all his new friends, and a new group of kids starts making fun of him. Even when the number of kids making fun of him grows exponentially, Alexander doesn’t want his parents to know what is going on. If they knew, they’d tell the principal and his teachers. That would be way too embarrassing. Finally, he just can’t take it anymore and has no choice but to tell his parents. Because of his unwavering determination and a unique plan developed by his parents, Alexander goes on a quest to get his friends back and keep them, too. Will Alexander learn how to manage his big feelings and get his friends back? Two Times as Much Love is guaranteed to evoke many heartfelt conversations, smiles, tears, and laughter. At the same time, this book will introduce a number of evidence-based and inner-strength-building skills and practices for parents and children alike.

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"Through the delightful and engaging story of Alexander, his beloved dog Sir Percival, and his newly separated parents, Ms. Beltzner has managed to unfold a way of teaching children to regulate their emotions and befriend themselves and others. The story is at once revealing and reassuring and also laugh-out-loud funny." —Michelle Becker, MA, LMFT Author of Compassion for Couples: Building the Skills of Loving Connection.

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Eileen Beltzner, SCC, BA, MSW, RSW, is a child and family therapist, a registered social worker, a special care counsellor and an internationally known certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher and trainer. She has authored two previous books: The Handbook for First-Time Parents (1987), and How to Tame the Tumbles the Mindful Self-Compassionate Way (2019). She lives in Oakville, Canada.

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Contributors

Author

Eileen Beltzner

Foreword

Karen Bluth

Introduction

Christopher Germer