Divorce may end your relationship with your spouse, but fighting in front of your children could leave lasting negative effects, Dr. Robin says. "You are injuring the mind, the body and the dreams and the hopes and the soul of your child," Dr. Robin says.

Children caught in the crossfire of divorce need to be protected, Dr. Robin says. "Kids sit by, they blame themselves, they think it is their fault that you and your wife, that you and your husband, didn't stay together," she says.

To help your kids cope, it's important to keep harmful words about your spouse to yourself when your children are present. "It must come to an end so that you can give them the foundation of love and security and well-being that I believe, and I know, you want them to have," she says. "It's the gift that you can give to your children that keeps on giving even if divorce has to happen."