The Manley family

Season 5 Episode 6
Friday 07 November, 2008 - 9/8c on ABC

John and Sarah Manley have been separated for over six months. John has his own apartment but has tried not to disrupt his children’s lives by eating his daily meals and spending every weekend in the family home, while sleeping overnight in his own apartment. The children, Max, 7, and Claire, 4, can’t quite figure out what is going on – and they handle their worry and confusion by acting out with anger, backtalk, fighting and tantrums. A simple trip to the grocery store is so fraught with the kids’ antics that Sarah cannot keep track of their whereabouts, and shoppers won’t even go down the same aisle as the Manleys. Sarah finds it hard to hold her ground in the power struggle with her kids, partly because she’s nearly as confused as they are about the state of her marriage. Jo takes Max aside and is nearly brought to tears when he quietly tells her he wants to ask his Dad why he moved out. The current living arrangement – “for the sake of the children” – clearly isn’t helping. Jo asks John pointblank if he wants to save his marriage. When the answer is no, Sarah realizes her hopes for reconciliation are dashed, and the parents make a decision to divorce. Can Jo to help them navigate this heartbreaking transition with Max and Claire?