Parenting is not easy. Parenting when separated is even more difficult.
Mark A. Nacol, a Texas family law lawyer, in his blog Nacol Law Firm Blog does an excellent job describing the rules for effective co-parenting.
Mark’s list of rules may seem to be “common sense” but when you are the parent trying to work with someone who either has rejected you as a spouse, or whom you have rejected, it is very difficult. Emotions and egos get in the way.
A key to responding to the other parent in an effective manner is to take a few minutes, even overnight, to consider your response. Too often knee-jerk immediate responses can cause more problems than they solve. This is especially true when you have first separated. The emotions are so raw that co-parenting is very difficult.
My advice: read Mark’s rules and then take a deep breath. Consider your response carefully. Sleep on it. Co-parenting gets easier in time. Be patient. Soon Mark’s “rules” will become “common sense”. Until then…follow the rules and breaaaattthhhhhh…
