Ever had that gut feeling that the "professional advice" about your parenting arrangements just didn't fit your child's needs? You're not alone, and you're probably not wrong.

The heartbreaking reality is that many professionals working in the separation space - lawyers, mediators, coaches, even family therapists - are operating on dangerous myths rather than developmental science. They push arrangements that sound "fair" to adults while ignoring what children actually need to thrive.

Take Sarah's story: her four-year-old was having meltdowns, sleep disruptions, and clinging desperately at changeovers in their "fair" 50-50 arrangement. Yet three different professionals dismissed her concerns, suggesting she was the one with separation anxiety! This pattern repeats itself thousands of times across Australia, as protective parents are labelled "difficult" for questioning arrangements that genuinely harm their children.

The myths are pervasive: that equal time is the gold standard (spoiler alert: it's not), that children just need parents to "get along" (oftentimes protection matters more), that children will adjust to anything (some arrangements cause lasting developmental damage), that parents' rights trump children's needs, and that connection to both parents is always worth the risk.

What should drive post-separation decisions instead? Child development science, individual family circumstances (including safety concerns), and what children's behaviour tells us about their wellbeing. When we start from this foundation, appropriate arrangements become much clearer.

Ready to advocate confidently for your child's genuine needs? Trust your parental instincts. Ask better questions. Seek professionals who understand child development - not just family law. And join the waitlist for the Post-Separation Parenting Blueprint at danielleblackcoaching.com.au to get evidence-based guidance that truly serves your children's wellbeing and best interests.

About Danielle Black:

Danielle Black is a respected authority in child-focused post-separation parenting in Australia. With over twenty years’ experience in education, counselling and coaching - and her own lived experience navigating a complex separation - she helps parents advocate strategically and protect their children’s safety and wellbeing.

Learn more at danielleblackcoaching.com.au
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This podcast is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Please seek independent legal, medical, financial, or mental health advice for your situation.