Co-parenting involves both parents actively working together to raise their children, communicating frequently, and making joint decisions. In a healthy co-parenting dynamic, there is mutual respect, open dialogue, and shared involvement in the child’s life.
This model can be ideal when:
- Both parents have a civil or amicable relationship post-divorce.
- Communication, while possibly difficult, is constructive.
- There’s a shared willingness to prioritize the child’s needs over personal grievances.
Co-parenting allows kids to feel secure and supported by both parents. It also helps create consistency in routines, expectations, and discipline—critical for children adjusting to life post-divorce.
However, co-parenting simply doesn’t work when:
- One or both parents are hostile or combative.
- Communication frequently devolves into arguments.
- One parent seeks to manipulate or undermine the other.
- Past abuse or trauma makes contact emotionally unsafe.
In these cases, attempting to co-parent can do more harm than good, especially for the children who become unwilling witnesses to ongoing battles.
