A journey of positive co-parenting journey with Grant

A positive and supportive co-parenting relationship isn’t a dream - it’s achievable even if you’ve had an unhappy marriage and divorce. But like most valuable goals, it takes effort and there’s likely to be some slips along the way. In this interview, which was recorded some months ago, Grant candidly talked about the end of his marriage, the creation of a positive co-parenting relationship and the restoration of an important friendship. If you’d like to hear the flip side of this co-parenting coin, you can listen to Sue in the previous episode of the show. Here are a few details of my discussion with Grant including some suggestions based on his own experience: Accepting responsibility for your part in the breakdown of a relationship, and to own these separation feelings, whether that’s through your own personal reflection or with the help of a counsellor; The importance of looking forward not backwards; The feeling of failure that many experience at the end of a marriage & the extra suffering this causes; The advantages of co-operation despite some intense separation emotions; Take care of yourself and do things to get you through this tough time whether that’s time in nature, conversations, or having fun with friends and family; The importance of not blocking relationship with mutual friends or each other’s families; What’s helped co-parenting: taking the time necessary to respond rather than react, compromising, acknowledging mistakes and recognising that there will be “bumps in the road” whenever you co-parent - whether your separated or not; How step-parents can bring a new positive dimension to a child's life…and much more. Grant and I talk in some detail about some of the parenting arrangements, like pocket-money and dividing time, but I left these segments in the podcast because I think it may be helpful for some parents to hear how these arrangements can be pieced together and the emotions at play as arrangements are changed - especially when time spent with a treasured child is reduced. As always, I can be reached through my instagram account or via my website www.theseparationfix.com.