High Conflict Child Custody Causes Child custody disputes are stressful. They can bring out the best and the worst in people. Ideally, when parents separate, they find a way to co-parent that keeps their child at the center. But in reality, that’s not always what happens. Instead of working together, some parents end up locked in an endless battle, unable—or…
Why Judges Order Supervised Visitation Imagine being told you can only see your child under the watchful eye of a supervisor. For many parents, this reality is both heartbreaking and confusing. But supervised visitation isn’t about punishment—it’s about protection. In child custody cases, judges often face difficult decisions to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. One of those decisions is…
Jessica’s Story: Co-Parenting With a Narcissist That Always Has to Be a Hero Introduction: When Co-Parenting Feels Like a Competition You Didn’t Sign Up for Co-parenting with a narcissist isn’t just exhausting—it’s a relentless game of one-upmanship. Every holiday, school event, or bedtime call becomes a stage for your ex to shine as the “hero parent,” leaving you scrambling to…
Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Co-parenting with a combative ex can feel like navigating a minefield—every conversation has the potential to explode into conflict. Simple discussions about schedules or decisions turn into power struggles, and attempts at cooperation often dissolve into frustration. When communication is consistently tense, it’s easy to feel drained, defensive and stuck in a never-ending cycle of…
HOW TO HANDLE A CONTROLLING CO-PARENT Co-parenting is challenging, even in the best circumstances. When one parent is overly controlling, it becomes even harder to manage. A controlling co-parent may dictate schedules, undermine the other parent’s authority, or use manipulation to influence decisions about the child. This behavior creates tension between parents and can harm the child’s emotional well-being. …
Common Signs of a Controlling Co-parent Every decision turns into a battle. Every conversation feels like a power struggle. You find yourself walking on eggshells, afraid that one wrong move will set them off. If this sounds familiar, you may be dealing with a controlling co-parent. Co-parenting should be about teamwork, but when one parent dominates decision-making, undermines boundaries, or…