Recognizing Moments of Successful Co-parenting

Art - Kool Aid (434x640)Providing hope and a realistic vision is as important as developing a roadmap for parents that they can follow towards achieving their final destination.

originally published August 15 2015


Like any intervention Parenting Coordination ultimately seeks to create change. In this case it is change in the toxic co-parental dynamic. As such, the end goal of the Parenting Coordination process is to move parents to a place where PC is no longer required, and where they function as effective co-parents. Realistically this may be that they are able to function just enough, and ideally they can buffer their children from conflict, be disengaged from each other, and can support the children’s relationship with the other parent.

Often the challenge is to educate parties what successful co-parenting looks like. Many parties entering Parenting Coordination have never experienced successful co-parenting and it is difficult to imagine a future where it could occur. Providing hope and a realistic vision is as important as developing a roadmap for parents that they can follow towards achieving their final destination.

As a PC it is important to acknowledge and capitalize on small often unobserved successes and chart incremental change. It can be easy to operate from a problem focused lens, but working from a solution focused and strength based lens parents may be able to develop a new narrative and conceptualize their conflict differently. They may also be able to see for the first time moments of successful co-parenting. Over time these moments build upon themselves and eventually they may achieve the ability to support their children without the assistance of court or a third party professional.

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J. Norton (B&W) ®MCP (324x420)

Jared Norton is a Parenting Coordinator with Riverdale Mediation.  Jared seeks to help parents to develop co-parenting relationships and interactions which support the best interest of their children.  Working with co-parent’s strengths, Jared helps co-parents address potential risk factors and to enhance protective factors within the context of the child’s world.

Click here to read Jared’ complete bio and CV.

About Jared Norton

Jared Norton is currently a faculty member of the Riverdale Mediation training team. Jared is also a parenting coordinator and seeks to help parents to develop co-parenting relationships and interactions which support the best interest of their children. Working with co-parent’s strengths, Jared helps co-parents address potential risk factors and to enhance protective factors within the context of the child’s world.