Is Your Co-Parenting Hurting Your Kids? The Truth You Need to Hear with Dr. Don Gordon

In this conversation, Dr. Don Gordon, founder and the Executive Director of The Center for Divorce Education, discusses the complexities of co-parenting, particularly in the context of divorce. He highlights the importance of understanding loyalty conflicts, the impact of parental behaviors on children, and effective communication strategies for co-parents. Dr. Gordon emphasizes the need for self-regulation techniques for parents and the psychological effects of conflict on children. He also provides resources for co-parents to improve their relationships and parenting skills.

Learn more about The Center for Divorce Education programs at: https://divorce-education.com/

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Keywords
co-parenting, divorce, loyalty conflicts, child psychology, communication strategies, parental behavior, conflict resolution, emotional literacy, self-regulation, parenting resources

Key Takeaways

• The absence of a biological father is a risk factor for delinquency.
• Loyalty conflicts can significantly affect children's emotional well-being.
• Parents often unknowingly put their children in loyalty binds.
• Teaching parents about their impact on children can motivate change.
• Effective communication is crucial in co-parenting relationships.
• Using 'I' messages can diffuse conflict between co-parents.
• Self-regulation techniques can help parents manage stress.
• Children's cortisol levels can be affected by parental conflict.
• Active listening fosters better communication with children.
• Resources are available to help co-parents navigate their challenges.

Resources Mentioned

Dr. Gordon’s Programs & Websites:

• Children in Between (4-hour co-parenting course) online.divorce-education.com
• High Conflict Solutions (for high-conflict co-parenting situations)
  highconflictsolutions.com
• Children in Between for Kids (teaches kids ages 7-14 emotional literacy & self-regulation) childreninbetweenforkids.com
• Parenting Wisely (general parenting skills program) FamilyWorksInc.com

Books & Experts Mentioned:

• No Bad Parts – Book by Dr. Richard Schwartz (focuses on inner healing and personal growth using the Internal Family Systems model)
• Dr. Warren Farrell – Expert on active listening and relationship-building strategies

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Co-Parenting Challenges
02:47 Understanding Loyalty Conflicts in Co-Parenting
05:55 Identifying Unintentional Harmful Behaviors
08:50 Effective Communication Strategies for Co-Parents
11:52 Navigating High Conflict Co-Parenting Relationships
15:36 The Impact of Conflict on Children
19:45 Self-Regulation Techniques for Parents
24:40 Focusing on Personal Growth and Accountability
28:00 Communication Strategies for Children
30:39 Leveraging Technology in Co-Parenting
31:05 Resources for Co-Parents
32:50 Introduction to Co-Parenting Beyond Conf

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