One of the most challenging aspects of divorce is parenting your children with your former spouse. You want the best for your kids, but making decisions in the wake of a divorce is often challenging. This is especially true if your ex exhibits narcissistic tendencies, which can complicate the co-parenting relationship.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate the situation and give your child the support they deserve. By doing the following, you can reduce stress and tension for everyone involved.
Do not get drawn into arguments
Divorce can cause resentment, especially if there was a lot of conflict leading up to the split. As a result, your ex might continually discuss the subject and the details surrounding your divorce. While it is definitely challenging to maintain your cool, doing so is the best way to avoid stress and aggravation. Explain to your ex that you do not want to discuss these matters and that your collective focus should be on your child.
Keep your child away from conflict
You will naturally become aggravated by your ex’s behavior if they refuse to cooperate as a co-parent. However, you must shield your child from this frustration to preserve their relationship with the other parent. Despite your conflicts, your child deserves a relationship with your ex-spouse, provided they are a kind and loving parent. When you feel like venting, turn to a trusted friend or seek assistance via professional counseling.
Maintain your boundaries
Firm boundaries are crucial when dealing with a challenging ex-partner. By establishing and maintaining your boundaries when it comes to communications and other matters, you can have better control over the situation. For example, you can use text or email instead of face-to-face communication if it tends to cause conflict. You can also avoid all topics of conversation that do not concern your child.
If you lose focus when faced with your ex’s problematic behavior, make the best interests of your child a priority. You can also take the matter back to court if you need to develop a new parenting plan.