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Tag: co-parenting

co-parenting

Tips for Co-Parenting Successfully with a Narcissist

Being married —  then divorced — from a narcissist is bad enough, but when you must co-parent with one, the difficult becomes the almost impossible.  Your co-parent narcissist thrives on dysfunction, which makes for a miserable co-existence.  However, if you are aware of their tactics, you’ll be in a better position to deal with them.  Here are some tips for identifying those tactics and how to cope: Expect spiteful behavior and learn to ignore it.  The narcissist thrives on getting an emotional reaction, and is often able to get one by making nasty comments to prompt your response.  Learn to
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Protecting Your Parenting Time During a Separation or Divorce

If you have separated from your spouse or partner and there are children involved, you are no doubt concerned about protecting your parenting time during your separation, whether or not it leads to divorce. Here are some guidelines to ensure you have equal access to your children (unless there are mitigating factors like domestic abuse or other crimes): Talk with a family law attorney. To enforce your rights, you have to first know what those rights are. If the child was conceived out of wedlock, you must establish paternity. If your child was born or adopted within a marriage, your
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How to Successfully Co-Parent with a High-Conflict Ex

If you endured a high-conflict marriage and a high-conflict divorce, chances are you will be facing many of the same challenges when it comes to co-parenting with your ex. Here are some tips on how to successfully co-parent with a high-conflict ex: Control your reactions. Ongoing conflict between two people is pretty much a product of habit. To keep peace in your co-parented family, you need to break this habit. First, realize you only have control over you, so work on your communication skills by remembering to take the high road, no matter how nasty your ex may get on
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Lucky Us

I remember the instantaneous excitement I felt when the girls came home from school and enthusiastically reported that Anna got a part in the play.  As someone who did my own share of performances in junior high and high school, I was thrilled to see her so excited to experience the unique kind of magic that being part of a cast and a show produces. This was her first year with a role, a costume, and a solo.  I wanted to be with her for all of it and to celebrate it all.  When mapping out the rehearsal and performance
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Pit and Peak: A Week in the Life of Co-Parenting

With 15+ years of being a divorce lawyer under my belt, I can say without hesitation that I am most often asked by my clients and people in general, about how I personally co-parent my children post-divorce. My former spouse and I share joint legal and physical custody of our school-age daughters and have for the last 4 years. Some people have commented, “You make it look easy.” The truth is, it isn’t easy and just like any parent couple knows, it comes with ups and downs. My former husband and his new family have a dinnertime ritual of debriefing
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My Christmas Wish: Peace on Earth… or at Least Between Parents

In this first holiday season since being divorced, the emotional tugs from the divorce are in some ways renewed.   The holidays capture tradition, focus on family and love, and press pause for parents to enjoy the magic of childhood.  When divorcing, or even after having been divorced for some time, these highlights of the holidays can feel sad.  My office manager played a comic reel for me just today and the comedian stated very wisely “No good marriage ever ended in divorce.”  While this is true, it does little during the holidays when you desire the traditions of years past
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