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Co-Parenting
In this episode of the Surviving Divorce Podcast I discuss co-parenting, why it's a good idea and when it's not a good idea.
Why You Should Co-Parent With Your Ex:
Children need both parents involved in their lives. \xa0They need both a mom's perspective and a dad's perspective. \xa0Mother's tend to be more nurturing and Dad's tend to be the disciplinarian. \xa0That's not always the case and some of you may\xa0accuse\xa0me of stereotyping, but kids really do need both genders involved in there lives in a positive way

Co-parenting can help you present a united front to your kids. \xa0Kids will push the boundaries and often try to play parents against each other. \xa0This even happens in in-tact families but can be even more of an issue for divorced parents.

Keeping major rules and expectations consistent between households can help your children feel stable and less confused. \xa0Bedtimes for younger children should be the same and routines for things such and homework and chores should be as similar as possible.

Working together on financial needs and parenting schedules\xa0can\xa0also help children feel secure. \xa0It's often said that divorce turns a marriage into a business arrangement, but when it comes to the kids, their needs should come first. \xa0Being flexible with visitations schedules can make everyone feel more comfortable and can ease the stress of having two homes.
When Co-Parenting is Not a Good Idea
If your ex has a history of abuse, has court ordered supervised visitation, or is mentally unstable then trying to keep them involved can do more harm than good. \xa0In this case, stick to the court ordered arrangements and try not to put your ex down in front of your children.

Also, if your ex just doesn't want to be involved there isn't much you can do. \xa0You can't push a rope. \xa0You still need to try, but if they just don't want to be involved then there isn't much you can do.
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Questions / Comments
If you have a question or comment you can call the listener feedback line at 347-433-7664 or just click the feedback link to the right and use your computer's microphone. \xa0I will try to answer questions on the air. \xa0You can also leave a comment below.