Co-Parenting 202
Welcome to the 90-Day Co-Parenting Success Challenge! This program is designed to help you foster effective communication, build trust, and develop strategies for successful co-parenting. Each week focuses on specific themes and actionable tasks to strengthen your co-parenting relationship and create a supportive environment for both children and parents. Key Points: Focus on the Children: Thi
Course by Week
In this module, you will discover the vital importance of self-care in your co-parenting journey and how it enhances your connection with your children and co-parent. By embracing self-care practices, you'll develop the skills to respond thoughtfully to challenges, reducing the likelihood of overreacting. You will also learn to create Genuine Encounter Moments (GEMs)—special interactions in which you are fully present, listening intently, making eye contact, and showing empathy. These moments build trust and strengthen the parent-child bond by demonstrating that you value their feelings. By prioritizing self-care and fostering GEMs, you will enhance your emotional resilience and create a nurturing environment that promotes connection and understanding. Each module includes a reading assignment and an educational video featuring Sue Dockerill's helpful insight. After engaging with the materials, parents will be prompted to fill out a questionnaire to capture their understanding and reflections. This approach will help reinforce learning and facilitate the sharing of practical applications. Your challenge in this module focuses on creating a positive and present-oriented dynamic with your children while minimizing conflict and stress related to past issues with the other parent. Here are some practical steps to consider: NEW ROLES, NEW GOALS 1. Set Intentions Begin each day to focus on the present moment and your relationship with your children. Remind yourself that today is an opportunity to strengthen that bond. 2. Only contact the other parent on App Close unless there is an emergency. Communicate Clearly and Positively: When you respond with the other parent, I ask that you please aim for brief, clear, and polite messages. Avoid phrases like "you always" or "you never," which can lead to defensiveness or conflict. Be mindful and stick to facts and what’s necessary for parenting in the now. Let go of the past. Focus on your new roles and shared goals. 3. Prioritize G.E.M.S Genuine Encounter Moments: Invest in activities you and your children enjoy together. This can help reinforce your bond and provide a positive focus. 4. Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness to help you stay centered and reduce stress. Mindfulness can also help you respond to situations thoughtfully rather than reactively. 5. Self-Reflection: Focus on your actions and attitudes. Reflect on how you can be the best parent for your children, setting a good example through your behavior. 6. Let Go of the Past: Work on releasing past grievances. This may involve processing emotions through journaling, therapy, or meditation. The goal is not to let past events cloud your current interactions with your kids or the other parent. This is an educational program, not therapy. If you can't be fully present there, I recommend counseling. 7. Promote Positive Interactions: Encourage a household where positive communication and understanding are prioritized. Model the language and behaviors that reflect the relationships you want to nurture. This challenge is about building a nurturing environment for your children by shifting focus from conflicts with the other parent to fostering a healthy, loving connection with them.
In this module, you will discover the transformative power of encouragement in raising your child's self-esteem and enhancing your co-parenting relationship. You will learn to create a positive environment that empowers your children to thrive through daily acts of encouragement. Remember the first five modules are all about strengthening your bond with your kids. Don’t worry about the other parent's focus on YOU! Oftentimes parents are so busy fighting in court they neglect the people they are fighting over. Your kids will be a lot happier if you work on getting along and parenting them effectively. Most of you have a long road ahead of parenting. Focus on the kids! By the end of this module, you will have a toolkit of strategies to encourage your children, improve communication with your co-parent, and create a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels valued. Embrace this challenge, and watch how simple acts of encouragement lead to remarkable changes in your family dynamics! Let's dive in!
Welcome to Module 3! In this challenge, we will explore the reasons behind misbehavior in both children and adults. You’ll be introduced to Rudolph Dreikurs' four goals of misbehavior, which reveal that behavior is goal-oriented. (Attention, Power, Revenge, Inadequacy). Children don’t misbehave because they are inherently good or bad; they misbehave because they often don’t know what else to do. In this module, you'll discover how to guide your child’s behavior without resorting to punishment. Our responses are shaped by our belief systems. Traditionally, it was thought that children misbehave because they are "bad" or "spoiled." However, a new perspective suggests that children misbehave because they are learning new skills. By shifting our mindset from "children need to suffer to learn" to "children thrive when they feel understood," we can encourage better behavior and stronger family connections. Get ready to unveil the secrets to nurturing positive behavior and enhancing the bonds within your family. Let’s begin!
Congratulations on reaching Module 4 of your 90-day challenge—you're now 40 days into the program! This is an exciting milestone, and you should be enjoying the results of your hard work during this phase. Remember to continue the family circle to engage in your weekly encouragement feast and maintain a focus on finding solutions rather than assigning blame. As you progress, your child might need extra support. This module provides a worksheet to help you both tackle problems together. Involve your child in finding solutions and encourage responsibility by involving them in problem-solving. Sometimes, natural consequences, like getting a lower grade for a late paper, teach important lessons unless the behavior persists. If it does, a logical consequence is needed. For example, if your child is struggling academically due to shyness in asking for help, a logical consequence might be arranging tutoring or a distraction-free study schedule. This approach supports personal growth and accountability.
You should be on day 50 of the 90 day challenge. You are more than half way to co-parenting success! Congratulations! Keep sharing your progress on App Close! Let us know how we can support you along the way! The Family Circle serves as a weekly gathering space to establish connections, set goals, and develop effective routines and rituals that support children's success. Every mistake is viewed as an opportunity to create something new. Children express their feelings, receive encouragement, and play an active role in finding solutions by sharing ideas and voting on strategies together, transforming chaos into cooperation. Turn off phones and turn on life skills for success! This is family time! One child or more and one parent is a family. Your child has two families and when everyone gets along they feel the oneness. Having similar rituals and routines in both homes makes kids feel connected. The Family Circle gives children a voice so they feel powerful, connected and loved.
PLEASE NOTE: Module 6 requires a call to be scheduled between both co-parents within the 10 day window of this module. Please discuss this with your co-parent and confirm the date and time for the call within AppClose. As you gear up to tackle Module 6, you’re well-prepared to extend these communication skills to your relationship with the co-parent. Building effective communication bridges with them will ensure a cohesive approach to parenting, ultimately benefiting your children. Let's embrace this next phase of developing open, honest dialogues that resolve conflicts and enhance mutual understanding. Effective communication is essential for successful co-parenting, as it directly influences the quality of interactions and the overall relationship between co-parents. Understanding various communication styles—passive, assertive, and passive-aggressive—enables co-parents to enhance their interactions, reduce conflict, and create a supportive environment for their children. This module aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to different communication styles effectively.