Summer Essentials: How to Cope When There’s No “Co” in Your Co-Parenting with Christina McGhee #429

Co-parenting takes two people willing to show up. Susan Guthrie says that when only one parent is willing, it is one of the most common and most exhausting struggles she sees, and it is exactly the situation divorce parenting expert Christina McGhee helps families navigate.

Parenting even under the best of circumstances is challenging. Add in a co-parent who is uncooperative or high-conflict, and it becomes downright exhausting, leaving you feeling like you are constantly trying to protect your kids while managing someone who is not making it easy.

Christina tackles one of the toughest situations of all, co-parenting when there is no real co-parent on the other side, and shares her top tips for working through the feelings of hopelessness and exhaustion that come with it. Together, she and Susan talk through how to get to a place of being in control of yourself and your emotions, so you can stay grounded, set boundaries, keep your children out of the middle, and show up as an empowered, consistent, engaging, and confident parent no matter what your co-parent is doing.

What You'll Learn

What Christina means when she says “When there’s no “Co” in Co-parenting…”

Instead of staying focused on fixing the co-parent, lean into your co-parenting values and work on yourself

Radical acceptance: Adjust your expectations and accept things the way they are…for now. “It may not get easier, but how you manage it makes a difference.”

Ask yourself: How is your response going to impact your children?

Talk about the problem, not the person. “Making the other parent look small will never make you look big.”

Don’t forget about the power of one!

Episode 5 of 8 in the Divorce & Beyond Summer Essentials Series. This summer, Divorce & Beyond brings back 8 the episodes listeners reach for most, the conversations with the clearest, most practical guidance for anyone thinking about, going through, or rebuilding after divorce. New Essentials air every other Monday all summer. Follow the show so you never miss one.

About this week's special guest: Christina McGhee