Divorce is not easy in Mississippi or anywhere else, and commonly couples separate due to difficulties in their interpersonal communication. However, divorces that involve kids often end up with a co-parenting situation. While co-parenting effectively has been shown to be the best situation for children of divorce, that doesn’t mean the relationship between the parents is going to be any better than amicably rocky. It is important to be able to continue to co-parent, even though your relationship with your ex is through. According to Madame Noire, it is important to view your new co-parenting relationship with your ex spouse as businesslike.
However, remaining businesslike when your ex-spouse is hostile can be very difficult. There are several ways to manage this. The first is to restrict all communication to written forms. This could potentially involve text messaging, email, or even literal paper mail if necessary. In the event that you decide co-parenting is not going to be the path forward, having paper proof of acrimonious exchanges can bolster your position in court if you need to seek sole custody. Plus, things generally have a better chance of remaining level-headed if in print.
Try to keep any negative comments about your ex-spouse to yourself when you are interfacing with your children. In the event that your ex-spouse really is a negligent parent, this will be made apparent to the child without additional comments from the good parent. Even in the event that your child recognizes that your ex-spouse is a poor parent, it can be difficult for the child to hear negative things about the other parent directly from you.
