Year one is the hardest
The first twelve months of co-parenting are usually the hardest. The schedule is new, your emotions are raw, and your kids are watching every interaction for clues about how to feel.
Communication ground rules
Move all logistics out of in-person conversations and into a co-parenting app or shared calendar. Keep messages short, factual, and focused on the children. Save venting for your therapist or your group chat.
Holidays and special days
Settle the holiday schedule in writing before the first one arrives. Most parents alternate odd and even years for major holidays. Children's birthdays often work best when both parents attend, briefly and cordially.
Protecting the kids
Never use children as messengers. Never criticize your ex in front of them. The single biggest predictor of how children handle divorce is the level of conflict between their parents — not the divorce itself.
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