If you and your child’s other parent are either currently navigating a divorce or have recently finalized one, you are likely feeling overwhelmed by the process of becoming a single parent. Even if you have a significant support network in your life, it is never easy to transition from parenting with a partner to parenting alone. The challenges inherent in this process may be exacerbated if you and your child’s other parent are not getting along at the moment.
Thankfully, you do not have to love or even like your child’s other parent when attempting to make your situation easier and more peaceful for you and your child. It can be helpful to think of your co-parenting relationship with your former spouse as a business partnership. Not all business partners like each other, but they aim to work together for the good of the business. Your “business” in this scenario is your child. You may not like your co-parent, but you can still work together for the good of your child and the peace of your recently reorganized family structure.
When you start to look at your co-parenting relationship as a business partnership, you can begin to take some of your intense emotions out of your communication with your co-parent. Intense emotions are both normal and healthy in the wake of divorce, however it is not always healthy to let your emotions drive your co-parenting relationship. Focusing primarily on the good of your “business” will help to reign your emotions in so that you can process those emotions at a time that is safe and healthy for you.
When co-parents fight, blame each other, speak negatively about one another and otherwise let their emotions drive their relationship, their child or children can suffer as a result. Please, consider trying out this helpful tip and see if it aids you in focusing your co-parenting efforts directly towards the good of your child.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Divorce Strategies: Remember Your Children Will Pick Out Your Nursing Home!” PJ Vincent, Sep. 25, 2015
