Let’s be honest. Not every divorced parent can co-parent with a former partner. It sounds great—working together, communicating calmly, putting the kids first. But what happens when your ex treats co-parenting like a courtroom or an opportunity to abuse you?

That’s where parallel parenting can be a viable option. And while it can be a lifesaver in some situations, it’s not the gold standard—it is better reserved as either the last resort or the only choice.

Co-parenting can be incredibly challenging, especially when emotions are still raw or trust is low. But with the right tools, it’s possible to reduce conflict, stay organized, and build a more collaborative relationship—even if your co-parent isn’t quite there yet.

Technology won’t solve every issue, but the right app can give you a framework for healthier communication, better coordination, and clearer documentation. Below is a list of helpful co-parenting apps to support you in that effort. These are listed in no particular order, and each serves a different need depending on your situation.

Graduation season is here! As a parent, you may be experiencing a mix of emotions as you approach your child’s high school graduation. On one hand, you may be excited to shuffle them off to college and regain some time for yourself, especially if you’re about to become an empty nester. It’s okay to feel this way. You’ve worked hard to raise them to this point.

On the other hand, you may be dreading the end of this chapter. No more school events to attend. No more socializing with other parents at these events. Plus, your influence over your child’s choices will lessen. Yet, you’ll worry just as much and maybe more now that so many decisions they make will be adult in nature. Later in this article, we’ll cover how to prepare for your child’s transition.

Whether you shared a family pet with your co-parent before splitting up or acquire one after, it’s crucial to recognize that children often consider pets as part of their family. Dismissing this bond risks making your child feel like their feelings and priorities don’t matter to you. Further, when a child receives a pet as a gift, they view the pet as theirs, no matter which parent’s house they’re at.

While you might not have major pet-related conflicts with your co-parent, it’s wise to proactively address potential challenges rather than disregarding them as trivial or irrelevant. Here are some key considerations and strategies to help you navigate co-parenting when pets are part of the picture.

What is Parental Alienation

The National Association of Parental Alienation Specialists states that Parental Alienation Syndrome is “children rejecting a parent without justification.” This makes it sound like these kids just wake up one day and tell mom or dad they don’t want to see them anymore.

But is that how it happens? Not from my perspective.

Parenting is a territorial sport. Parents protect both their children and their rights to raise them how they see fit. So when it comes to the time a child of divorce spends with each parent, the schedule can be a huge point of contention.

But first, let’s clear up a matter of confusion. Custody and parenting time are two different issues. Custody pertains to decision-making authority—sole custody gives one parent full control, while joint custody means both parents share this power. Parenting time, however, refers to how time is allocated between parents, which can be unequal even with joint custody.

What do you do when all your co-parent does is spew negativity at you? How are you supposed to have a productive conversation with them? How will you two ever collaborate on anything?You may feel overwhelmed and helpless when it seems like every word coming at you is specifically chosen to maximize pain. If you’re like most people, your first reaction to negativity is to give it right back. After all, they’ve earned it, haven’t they? But if you do that, where is it going to get you? Are you going to finally convince your co-parent that they are wrong, and you are right? Unlikely!

Co-parents who come to me for co-parent coaching often ask me to help them resolve conflicts involving differences in parenting styles and difficulty agreeing on decisions surrounding the children.

To help parents get their arms around these concerns so they can be managed between them, I ask each parent to make three lists: