The Coparenting Collective

Having a big family with multiple parents (i.e. stepparents) and lots of siblings can feel overwhelming to a small child. That's how Florence feels as she tries to figure out how to complete her family tree project for Ms. Collin's class at school. Follow along as Rosalie reads the sweet tale of "Florence and Her Fantastic Family Tree" by Judy Gilliam to her daughter while pointing out the beautiful benefits of having a large, loving family. Visit thecoparentingcollective.com to purchase a copy or search our collection of excellent children's books about divorce and blended families.

In her guest appearance on Conversations To Cut The Conflict podcast with award-winning Australian alternative dispute resolution expert Lisanne Iriks (since she's the host, you'll learn all about her at the start of the episode), Rosalie opens up about how she coped with the rollercoaster of emotions she felt early on as a coparent, especially because her child was so young. You'll learn about the mindset she used to get out of emotional purgatory, regain her self-confidence, and diffuse her hostile ex. Learn more about conflict resolution at thecoparentingcollective.com.

Do you want to help your children avoid narcissists? Do the opposite of these 10 behaviors. In this episode, we go over what they are and how to avoid them. Most people easily recognize that serious maltreatment can have a lasting impact on children. But what about less insidious parenting patterns that don't rise to an extreme level of abuse? Some families appear to function okay to the outside world yet are riddled with dysfunctional family dynamics behind closed doors. And just because these don't constitute legal abuse or are invisible to anyone outside the family, doesn't mean they won't seriously undermine the children's ability to lead healthy adult lives. *Based on Amy Morin's article originally published in Business Insider July 11, 2020 - More information is available at thecoparentingcollective.com

Listen in as Rosalie reads "What Matters Most" by Emma Dodd to her youngest daughter over breakfast—one of her favorite ways to create teaching moments with her children—it quickly becomes a cute little gab session about life. --- Visit our bookstore: https://linktr.ee/thecoparentingcollective

Part 2/2: We continue with Brooke's story as she is making plans to meet her bonus daughters' mom for the first time face-to-face. What do they talk about? What's the outcome? Does it change anything? More importantly, can they break through the barrier of parallel parenting, to create a healthier environment for the twins? Listen in to find out! You won't believe your ears. *Update: Brooke is no longer in this relationship.

Part 1/2: Meet Brooke @miss.brookemichelle, a down-to-earth social services case manager in California. Four years ago, she fell head over heels for a hard-working devoted single father of twin girls. As they cemented their relationship, she tried to do everything right and "stay in her lane" but was shunned and borderline harassed by the girl's mother, a woman she had never met. As time passed, Brooke faced an uphill battle (along with a breast cancer diagnosis) as the middlewoman caught in their parallel parenting dynamic. Follow her incredible journey in this two-part series. Visit us at thecoparentingcollective.com for more advice and resources.

It's common for coparents to feel conflicted about whether or not to give gifts to their ex on special occasions (mother/father's day, their birthday, holidays, etc). We certainly understand why. Yet, in this mini-episode, Rosalie shares the three main reasons she supports gift-giving on behalf of her three co-parented kids and how she reconciled doing so even when it wasn't being reciprocated. Visit us at thecoparentingcollective.com for more advice and resources.

Separation doesn't mean you are destined for misery. Yes, we all worry about what we are leaving behind and what the future holds for us and the children but there are ways to displace those fears and clear a path for more wisdom all while teaching your family important life skills. *This episode was recorded as part of Olga Nadal's @divorceforlove expert panel on Facebook. Visit us at thecoparentingcollective.com for more advice and resources.

In this episode, Rosalie talks to a Floridian mom and stepmom, Kim Rose of @_perfectlyimperfectfamily_ on Instagram. After separating from her first husband, she found herself playing the "mom card" when it came to sharing her toddler son, a move she wholly regrets. But, as life would have it, meeting her second husband and witnessing the anguish he was going through with his daughter's mother, helped reverse those thoughts and open her mind to the importance of co-parenting as a team. Five years later, she is perfectly happy with life in her blended family except for one major component she still hopes will change, before it's too late. Visit us at thecoparentingcollective.com for more advice and resources.

New York-based single father, Tony @weekendwithjacob, is meeting the challenges of co-parenting his toddler son like a pro, thanks to a court order and tone-modulating communication app. He tells Rosalie that it wasn't easy to reconcile his emotions after the end of his stormy relationship (he made mistakes) due to the heavy toll it took on him, but nowadays he immerses himself in fatherhood (unlike his father before him), relishes every moment, and pays it forward to help other coparents. His favorite part of being a dad? Listen to find out. Visit us at thecoparentingcollective.com for more advice and resources.

The Stranger In The Black Robe. There is a pervasive cultural myth that leads us to believe that once we have the "opportunity" to tell our side of the story in family court, we will somehow be able to convince the judge to rule in our "favor". It's a myth for a reason. In family court, the burden of proof is often insurmountable and based on narrow, self-serving perspectives. But, in this bonus episode, we present another view, the one from the bench. You'll hear the wise words of the Honorable Paul W. Garfinkel as he implores parents to understand that child custody rulings are really "judgment day for children". They have to live with the sentences handed down. Listen in to learn three ways to avoid the agonizing pitfalls of separation and truly put your children first.

What does love have to do with becoming rockstar coparents? Love for your child, sure, but each other? Debatable. In this episode, Rosalie introduces you to Michael @thatsbradford & Michelle @m.vrks, casual friends who unexpectedly found themselves expecting a baby. It's been three years since their son was born and if they are not coparenting goals, then no one is. Lol ... so, how do they do it? What are their unique challenges? Is co-parenting easier without a history together? Let's find out! More advice and resources at thecoparentingcollective.com

In this episode, we have a single father who speaks out hoping to inspire dads in his position. Aaron @raisingboys_2men, a London-based single father "double" co-parenting two sons while mentoring a heap more through his fitness programs, shares the important role that co-parenting plays in his life. After growing up without a father himself, he is determined to prioritize not just the bond he has with his sons but the bond they have with each other. If you're not following him on Instagram, I suggest you do it immediately. Lol More advice and resources at thecoparentingcollective.com

Is it possible to peacefully co-parent after betrayal? Let's find out. In this episode, Rosalie chats with Lucy @lucyygmz, a laidback California mom who was blindsided when her husband wanted a divorce so he could be with his alleged mistress. When the proverbial sh*t hit the fan, Lucy had no idea what the future would look like for her and her son. Listen in as she discusses her truth about the abrupt end of her marriage and the surprising reason she and her ex were finally able to make an unexpected big shift towards equitable co-parenting. More advice and resources at thecoparentingcollective.com

Are you confused by where to start as a new co-parent or looking for guidance on how to achieve the best possible outcome while co-parenting? These rules will help. The Ten Commandments of Co-parenting (Mom & Dad Edition) are a set of principles relating to ethics and communication that play a fundamental role in learning to co-parent well. More advice and resources at thecoparentingcollective.com