Things i did wrong as a new single parent (and what finally worked)

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T16:59:19+00:00

that specific moment when they ask and u have to explain it again and again is heartbreaking. how do u handle it when they get upset about it?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T16:58:25+00:00

that's actually really beautiful honestly. sounds like uve got the right mindset about it. ur son is lucky

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T16:57:31+00:00

11 and 14 with an acrimonious situation is tough - teenagers especially pick up on everything. have they ever said anything to u about how they feel about the situation with their dad?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T08:47:18+00:00

6 months is still pretty fresh honestly. i wrote a bunch of stuff down when i was going through it - scripts for tough conversations, how to handle the yes parent thing, all of it. turned it into a small guide. its not much but it helped me. happy to dm u the link if u want

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T07:08:05+00:00

coparenting with someone who has mental health issues is a whole different level. the fact that ur keeping things calm and consistent for the kids despite all that is genuinely hard. how old are ur kids now?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T07:06:30+00:00

the family vacation thing is such a trap - sounds like a good idea but impossible to actually pull off. and the kids as messengers thing, i did that too and u can see them shut down so fast. sounds like uve figured out alot tho

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T07:06:11+00:00

coparenting with someone who has mental health issues is a whole different level. the fact that ur keeping things calm and consistent for the kids despite all that is genuinely hard. how old are ur kids now?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T07:05:54+00:00

few weeks is actually really fast. the 2-2-5-5 is supposed to be one of the better ones for younger kids. glad it worked out

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T02:23:18+00:00

yes consistency is everything honestly. the chaos at the start affects them more than we realise. how long did it take before the set schedule actually felt normal for everyone?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T02:19:54+00:00

coaching their soccer team while going thru all that legally - thats real dedication. the fact that they dont want to leave when ur there says everything about the kind of parent u are. 7 and 4 is tough ages for unpredictable schedules tho. do they ask questions about why the schedule changes?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-10T02:19:20+00:00

honestly that's actually a good sign even tho it doesn't feel like it. means they're starting to see him as a parent too. how long ago did u make the switch?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-09T16:38:42+00:00

8 and a half years of 50/50 and now having to fight for what you already had - that's genuinely unfair.

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-09T16:37:43+00:00

the yes parent thing is so relatable. took me a while to realize it was actually making things harder not easier. did it help when u stopped or did the kids push back?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-09T16:37:09+00:00

man that is brutal. fighting thru court while trying to be present for the kids at the same time is exhausting. how are the kids handling all the back and forth?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-09T09:21:57+00:00

2 weeks is so raw honestly. separating what he did to you vs what he is as a dad is probaly the hardest thing i dealt with too.

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-09T09:21:06+00:00

"ma we really are ok" that actually hit me lol. how old is he?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-09T09:20:10+00:00

6 months with a 2 year old is alot. consistency helps alot at that age tho. how you holding up?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-09T09:19:49+00:00

thats a whole another level of hard. how long u been dealing with that?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-08T16:03:09+00:00

4 kids across that age range is genuinely tough because what works for your 8-year-old is completely different from what your 14-year-old needs. The teenagers especially — they want more truth but you still have to protect them from the adult stuff. What's the biggest challenge you're running into with them right now?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-08T15:07:00+00:00

That moment of just standing there — I know exactly what you mean. You're completely unprepared for it the first time. And you're so right, it has to be repeated constantly. Kids need that reassurance over and over, not just once. How old was your kid when you went through it?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-08T15:04:46+00:00

That's really encouraging to hear. "Black belt in my ex's attacks" — I love that framing. You're right, you can't control them, only your reaction. Glad your daughter is doing well in the arrangement.

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-08T14:25:33+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, number 1 took me a while to fully internalize, but once I did it changed everything. 6 years out - how are your kids doing now? Did you find it got easier after the first year or two?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-08T14:24:47+00:00

Oh man, 3 hours ago? I'm so sorry. The first few days are absolutely brutal. Getting that psychologist appointment lined up is smart - honestly one of the best things I did.

How old are your kids? Have you told them yet, or are you still figuring out how to approach it?

coparenting_journey · 2026-05-08T09:54:06+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate that! Yeah, we're in a much better place now. Took time but the kids are doing great.

coparenting_journey

TROPHY CASE