Co-Parent Dilemmas

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Diane & Rick discuss the issues that arise when a co-parent is accused of parental alienation or child abuse. What drives the accusation, and what can be done to enlighten court professionals? 

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Diane & Rick answer listener Rachel’s question about how to respond to her kids when their dad has asked them to keep a secret from her.  They explore different ways kids are put in the middle with secret-keeping and the risks associated with it.

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Diane & Rick discuss some of their most difficult co-parent cases after listener Devin emails, wondering if any case is possibly worse than his! They discuss the importance of professionals working with the non-impossible parent  

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Listener Thomas asks how to respond to his 13-year-old son, who declares extreme political ideology that Thomas knows is coming from the other house. Should he respond? Stay silent? How do you counteract extreme ideas or values that go against yours when it comes from your kids? Diane...

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Bethany calls in with a frustrating dilemma, and Jeff emails about a similar frustration. Diane & Rick discuss how difficult it is to be placed in a position of choosing your own peace vs. your child’s emotional welfare. This seemingly impossible dilemma is quite common amon...

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Diane & Rick bring together a group of pediatricians and moms who have difficult co-parents to discuss innovative ways to work together. Kids of divorce often get stuck in the middle when a high-conflict co-parent weaponizes the medical community, leaving the other parent feeling ...

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Utah listener Heather wonders what more she can do to protect her two sons from their verbally abusive father. The 14-year-old explodes with dad, while the 13-year-old son witnesses the drama and tries to keep things from getting worse. Diane& Rick discuss the different roles chil...

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Texas listener, Christa, answers a challenge Diane made in a previous episode to give her any dilemma, and she would suggest a viable Plan B. Diane & Rick discuss whether or not what Christa presents are co-parenting dilemmas or general parenting issues, and they provide suggestio...

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Listener Todd asks if he should validate his child’s feelings, even when she says she doesn’t like him? How far does a parent go, and are feelings valid (representing truth) or simply experiences to be understood? Diane & Rick suggest it’s important to explore th...

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This is a REPLAY of one of the show’s most popular episodes (S4.E17.).  We’ll be back with new episodes next week. Diane and Rick look at a conflict that on the surface might seem easy to resolve for the Non-Impossible parent. But upon further exploration, they unpack...

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Listener Ben has been awarded custody of his daughter after the court determined her mother was alienating her from dad. He asks how to best parent his daughter after the trauma of alienation. Diane & Rick break it down and provide helpful, non-traditional advice to help him climb...

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Listener Kristen asks advice about her 9-year-old reengaging with his dad, who has been an extremely inconsistent parent. Diane & Rick discuss the harm to children when a parent consistently disappoints them by moving in and out of their lives. They discuss ways the listener can e...

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Diane & Rick respond to recent social media posts about first right of refusal, a clause in some parenting plans that requires co-parents to give the other parent the option of being with the children when they are unable to fulfill their court-ordered parenting time. They explore...

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Listener Kyle asks what the best holiday split is for teens. Diane & Rick ask a deeper question about what drives holiday negotiation in the beginning, when grief is most prominent. They discuss the importance of seeing the holidays through the children’s eyes instead of the...

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Diane & Rick address listener Laura’s dilemma with her ex-wife, who decided to introduce their two children to the donor dad’s family without her permission. They discuss the complications that come with divorce and adopted children, as well as the legal messiness when...

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In this third of a three-part series of why critical co-parenting skills work, Diane & Rick explore the importance of utilizing a Plan B when conflict arises. Somewhere between Plan A (a successful negotiation) and Plan C (going to court), there is a child-focused solution that do...

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Diane & Rick address Emily’s email about her know-it-all co-parent. They discuss the goal of utilizing a structured way of communicating and why it succeeds in managing the toxic co-parent, while ant the same time, adhering to a parenting plan that requires co-parents to sha...

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Listener Trenton wants advice on how to respond to his 10-year-old daughter when she expresses frustration about going between two homes. In this first of a three-part series on why critical co-parenting skills work, Diane and Rick discuss the feelings/thoughts/values triangle and wha...

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Listener Georgina asks about the consequences of moving her 12-year-old daughter away from her dad. They discuss the reasons why she is feeling the need to escape and how helping her daughter develop appropriate coping skills may neutralize the moving dilemma. This week’s GOOD N...