Parenting Apart Challenges
How to Co-Parent With A Conflictual Parent
When you have to co-parent with someone who is dedicated to conflict, you can expect that just about everything related to co-parenting will be more difficult after your divorce. I hear it all the time. “Christina, how can I possibly co-parent with someone who isn’t willing to be cooperative or does everything they can to…
Read MoreHandling Holiday Hassles With A Co-Parent Who Hates You
Heather felt that familiar sense of dread. December was always the worst. Although she and Brian had been divorced for over three years, the holidays continued to be complicated and miserable. Despite her best efforts to keep things friendly, there was zero flexibility. If Molly or Jack had holiday parties or special events, Brian would…
Read MoreMy co-parent wife continues to break promises – how can I help my son?
Q – I have been divorced for a couple of years and tried to be supportive of my co-parent having a relationship with our son. Even though I have made it easy for her to spend time with him, my co-parent frequently doesn’t show up and rarely calls. She is constantly making promises to our…
Read MoreUnderstanding Parent Alienation and Divorce
What is Parent Alienation? Parent alienation is a dynamic where a child is significantly influenced by one parent (typically referred to the “favored” parent) to completely reject the other parent (often known as the “unfavored” parent). Children are literally placed in a situation where they must view one parent as all bad and one parent…
Read MoreBypassing Battles with Your Co-Parent Over Parenting Styles
If your repeated requests to “nix the junk” are falling on deaf ears, it’s time to consider a new coparenting approach. From what time Jacob should go to bed to whether or not Haley should be allowed to go to a concert with her friends. What one parent sees as a perfectly acceptable parenting choice…
Read MoreWhat If I Am Really Bitter And Angry At My Co-Parent?
Q – What if I am really bitter and angry at my co-parent? I know I need to get over it but I just don’t know where to start. A – It’s been said that hanging on to bitterness and resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. Keep in…
Read MoreDivorcing verbally abusive spouse. How do I talk about this with my child without saying Dad is a bad person?
Q – I am divorcing because my husband is verbally abusive and on occasion has become physical. I want to know the PERFECT way to tell my daughter WHY we are getting divorced without saying he is a bad person. I want to make sure she knows that the way he treats us is not…
Read MoreMy child is acting like my co-parent, what do I do?
Q – I see some qualities in my son that remind me of my co-parent Even though I don’t mean to, when he starts acting like my co-parent, I over-react. I’m so worried that my son is going to turn out just like him. I know it is not fair and I should stop comparing…
Read MoreI am divorcing an abusive spouse, what do I say to the children?
Q – I am planning to ask my abusive spouse for a divorce. My children ( 8 and 10 yrs old) have witnessed his outbursts and as a result have experienced nightmares and anxiety. What should I say when I am explaining why I am asking for the divorce? A – Telling children about your decision to divorce…
Read MoreCo-Parent is sharing financial information with the kids
Q – My co-parent is sending messages through my kids about child support and putting them in the middle of adult financial issues. What should I do? A – When an co-parent puts kids in the middle of adult issues it can be beyond frustrating. Unfortunately when this happens, parents tend to either respond by trying to…
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