Co-Parent Dilemmas

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

Diane & Rick respond to an email from Janelle who struggles to please her co-parent without being walked on, and at the same time is afraid to set boundaries for fear her ex and the court will see her as a "bad" co-parent. They discuss what kids really need the co-parent relationship to look like in order to be okay.

For more info about the email communication protocol mentioned in this episode, click HERE.

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CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

This time of year presents unique challenges for co-parents that those who don't understand (like extended family members) struggle to grasp. Diane and Rick talk about how to manage the many issues and emotions co-parents face in planning a "happy" holiday season.

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

Mark from Georgia emails that his co-parent refuses to allow him to have time with their two sons. Diane & Rick discuss practical solutions to help Mark work through this issue, but they also provide important emotional considerations for how to relate to the children in this difficult circumstance.

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

In this episode, Diane talks candidly with Rick about the distinction between narcissitic personality disorder and narcissitic tendencies that we all may struggle with. They discuss how narcisstic abuse affects co-parents and their children and strategies to preserve a sense of self-worth when a narcissist is determined to destroy it to maintain their own one-up position.

Resources to assist those who are healing from narcisisstic abuse:

• Patricia Evans' groundbreaking book, The Verbally Abusive Relationship, is a must read for all who listen to this podcast and think they may be a victim of narcissistic abuse. Find it on Amazon here.
• Disarming the Narcissist offers great advice about how to avoid losing yourself in the games played by your narcissistic parent or co-parent. Find it on Amazon here.
• Children of the Self-Abosrbed is one of the frequently recommended books for children who are experiencing the abuses of a narcissitic parent. Find it on Amazon here.
• Narcissists tend to target people who may define themselves as “empaths.” To learn more, find the book, Empaths, on Amazon here.

Diane gave a couple of examples of how to respond to the narcissistic parent when they continually are asking for something that you don't think is realistic to give. Here are the answers she quoted on the show:

"Thank you for your message, but it's content is the very reason flexibility doesn't work for us. If every time I say no to a request, I get a response like this, then I'm not motivated to be flexible. Our child deserves parents who can stay out of conflict and that is more important to me than either of our personal needs. If you think the parenting plan needs adjusted, I am open to mediating it, but because of these kinds of messages, I am no longer open to straying from it."

"I understand your point of view. I am open to mediating this. Threats are not necessary. Thank you."

You can find suggested videos on our YouTube channel playlist. There's a special playlist about Narcissism. Find it HERE. Please subscribe to our channel so you can be notified when we add more videos.

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Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

A  listener in Vancouver shares a concern about his 4-year-old being encouraged to call his step-father "Dad" and wants to know if he should correct this or talk to his co-parent about teaching their child that he only has one "Dad." Diane and Rick discuss both sides of this issue and when to let it go and when it is appropriate to address it with the other parent.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our monthly podcast email to get a sneak peak into upcoming topics!

Do you have a co-parent dilemma? Call our voicemail number at 1-234-DILEMMA (1-234-345-3662) or email [email protected]

Want to talk about this episode with Diane and other parents? Be part of the conversation on the NON-Impossibles Facebook group

Become a CPDilemmas patron and monetarily support our work with co-parents. Visit our Patreon page to get special listener perks!

To get discounted online therapy through BetterHelp (as mentioned on this episode),  visit www.BetterHelp.com/Dilemma

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

Diane & Rick join Leh Meriwether and Todd Orston of Divorce Team Radio in a discussion about the benefits and risks of a 14-year-old making a custody decision. Although they specifically discuss a Georgia law regarding when a child can make a custody election, the mental health concepts discussed are applicable to all families.

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

Alma poses a question about child safety and right of first refusal. Diane & Rick unpack the complexities of these issues and how to focus on keeping the child out of the middle and engaged with the trusted parent.

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

Diane & Rick address a listener dilemma about sticking to the parenting plan or being flexible with weekend time. Blogger Bella Duncan (www.akidwithtwohomes.com) weighs in with how kids feel about living in a high-conflict parenting situation and advice about seeing things from the child’s point of view.

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

Diane & Rick answer listener Kathy’s question about access to grandchildren after divorce. She is frustrated that her ex daughter-in-law won’t be flexible about her time with the kids when the grandparents are in town. Rick & Diane suggest that even grandparents can respect the parenting plan and should educate themselves about co-parent conflict to avoid giving bad advice to their divorced children.

To access parent education described on the show, visit www.CNFC.org

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...

Have a quick question to be explored on the show? Send us a text message! Include your email address if you would like a personal response. Click HERE

Diane and Rick address Jared's dilemma with his co-parent regarding too many activities on his parenting time. He claims the other parent is purposely involving their child in activities on his weekends, and it's negatively affecting the time he has with his son. Should he let go and accept his child's busyness as part of childhood, or should he hold on and fight for what he thinks his child (and he) really wants?

Support the show

>>>>CONTACT US  >>>>RATE THE SHOW  >>>>VISIT OUR WEBSITE

CO-PARENT RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to Diane’s DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRUSTRATED CO-PARENTS and get a one-month FREE trial 
• If you want to learn more about Diane & Rick’s D.R.A.G.O.N. method for finding co-parenting peace, purchase their book,  I AM NON-IMPOSSIBLE  
• THE CO-PARENT TOOLBOX , is Diane Dierks’ guide for co-parents 
• CLICK HERE for FREE communication resources for co-parents  
• For valuable co-parent workshop videos and products, visit our Non-Impossible STORE!
• To get a special discount on therapy visit BetterHelp

FOR DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS:

• IMPACT training to learn how to...