Posted by Delaine - October 17, 2012 - Children, Co-Parenting, Parenting, Single Dads, Single Moms, Surviving
It’s tough being a single parent. And in addition to sometimes feeling draining and overwhelming, it can feel “unfair” – like our parenting responsibilities are stealing precious time and energy from us that we’d prefer to spend on well…ourselves. You know – our careers, our social lives, our dating/love life, etc. “I didn’t sign up to be a […]
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Posted by Delaine - April 9, 2011 - Co-Parenting, Parenting, Single Dads, Single Moms
It happened last weekend. My eight-year-old son asked if he could bike over to his friend’s place two blocks away. Right away I said no. What if they got hit by a car? What if some predator chased them down the residential streets? I wanted him within eye/ear sight. Just in case. But when I opened […]
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Posted by Delaine - February 28, 2011 - Blended & Changing Families, Children, Co-Parenting, Dealing with the ex, Parenting, Trying to Get Along
Written by blended family expert Shirley Cress Dudley. 1- Keep contact to a minimum. One phone call a day is excessive, several text messages a day is extremely excessive. If you have a subject related to the kids, speak briefly and clearly about your expectations. Emails are better than phone calls if your issue is […]
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Posted by Delaine - February 3, 2011 - Co-Parenting, Parenting, Single Dads, Single Moms
I was at home working when my phone rang – my ex-husband’s number popped up. Thinking it was my children, I quickly answered. Instead it was my ex. I heard, “We’ve had a bit of an accident. We’re on our way to get stitches.” “Who’s hurt?” I asked heart racing. “Janet.” (My four-year-old daughter) “She cut open her […]
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Posted by Delaine - December 28, 2010 - Children, Co-Parenting, Dealing with the ex, Parenting, Surviving, Trying to Get Along
Studies have shown that it’s the ongoing hostilities between divorcing parents that really emotionally damage and traumatize children. So how do you protect your children’s emotional well-being if divorce matters are in the Red Zone, the two of you aren’t speaking, and you can’t even stand being in the same building as him/her? You may ‘know’ you should smile and talk civilly and put […]
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Posted by Delaine - January 8, 2010 - Co-Parenting, Dealing with the ex, Parenting, Surviving, Trying to Get Along
This past week, a divorcing girlfriend told me about ’collaborative software’, something her divorce mediator had recommended. Her and her ex’s parenting schedules are hectic and becoming a source of contention because of miscommunication. Moreover, she’s at the point where she really doesn’t want to see his face or talk to him if she doesn’t […]
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Posted by Delaine - September 9, 2009 - Abuse, Children, Co-Parenting, Parenting, Single Dads, Surviving
Her ex was at her house doing pick up of their kids the past weekend when it happened. She and her three kids were over at the school yard finishing a quick game of soccer in the snow. Suddenly, her eldest son, now eight, tripped her daughter by accident. “Kyle,” she said to him, “You have to avoid […]
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Posted by Delaine - September 3, 2009 - Abuse, Children, Co-Parenting, Dealing with the ex, Parenting, Surviving, Trying to Get Along
Does this scenario rings any bells? Sue is the primary caregiver of her two children. Her ex, Brian, is a part-time dad who pays child support and takes the kids every second weekend and one evening/week. When they first got separated, Brian was very concerned about his limited access to the kids; he wanted them […]
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