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Hi!, I recently stumbled upon this great advice from Chukwuebuka Ijezie that I thought you might find helpful. “Co-parenting is always going to be a mess, especially when you’re young. I bet you’ve watched movies and tv shows that glorified co-parenting, and made it seem extraordinarily simple. Well, reality is quite different, but it’s not impossible. There are a few tricks to being a good co-parent that work even if you don’t get along with your ex.

• Recognize your child’s needs

A good co-parent must recognize that their child now lives two lives. They also have two parents, who may treat them differently and offer them different things because they have two lives. Try to see the world through the eyes of your child and figure out what the other parent can provide that you can’t. Understanding strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses is the key to success in this area. If your ex is better at getting your kids to do their homework, don’t try to dictate when and how your child does it. Perhaps they are better at sports that you don’t have time for. Whatever it is, consider what you and your child require to make your home a better place. 2.You aren’t married, so don’t hold them to the same standard as your husband or wife: There are reasons you aren’t still married. As a result, don’t hold a co-parent to the same standard as a husband or wife. Rather, hold them accountable for being a good co-parent. This entails taking a deep breath and realizing that it’s okay to let go of your high expectations on occasion. 3.Don’t get into conversations you know may not end: It’s easier said than done, but don’t start conversations you know aren’t going anywhere. But if you haven’t been able to change your behavior in the past, you won’t be able to change it now. Instead, focus on positive conversations that highlight a co-parent’s strengths. Don’t bring up unpleasant memories from the past. If you need to talk about a difficult topic, ask to schedule a time to talk about it. Being able to prepare for a contentious topic will allow each parent to think more rationally. Also, make certain that the discussions are focused on the best ways to parent. Keep your attention on the child rather than your relationship.” (to read more…)

In service to you and your family,

Managing Director, Hope4Families

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UPCOMING EVENTS IN OUR CALENDAR

January 12, 2022: 

The Concept of “Good Enough Parenting” and How it Impacts Parents with IDD

Hope4Families encourages you to send us your events to be featured at our website!

To learn more about Hope4Families, check our Website: @https://hope4families.net/welcome

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MEET OUR PROFESSIONAL OF THE WEEK

WILLIAM BERNET

PhD Professor Emeritus at Vanderbilt University, President of Parental Alienation Study Group. Dr. William Bernet is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Forensic psychiatrist who evaluates adults, children, and families involved in legal situations, both civil and criminal. My book, Children of Divorce, was co-authored with a circuit court judge, Don Ash. In 2010, I published Parental Alienation, DSM-5, and ICD-11. In 2014 my colleagues and I published Parental Alienation: The Handbook for Mental Health and Legal Professionals (edited by Demosthenes Lorandos, William Bernet, and S. Richard Sauber). Expertise includes pretrial competency and insanity evaluations, death penalty mitigation, genotyping of defendants, child custody and visitation disputes, and allegations of child sexual abuse.

To learn more about Hope4Families, check our Website: @https://hope4families.net/welcome

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FEATURED COURSES

Healing with Faith and Resilience

This Retreat Course is designed to provide both the intellectual and spiritual side of parental alienation, with an intention of incorporating mind, body and spirit on the journey.  The brief talks by credentialed professionals address the broad spectrum of pain, trauma, and ultimately resilience, no matter the faith perspective of the parent.

This was born out of the need to provide a faith-based perspective on high conflict divorce, specifically for hurting parents who have lost once-loving relationships with their children.

To learn more about Hope4Families, check our Website: @https://hope4families.net/welcome

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