How to Co-Parent Even If You Don’t Like Your Ex

📌 Learn more about family psychology support at https://www.compasspsychservice.com You do not need to like your ex to co-parent well. You do not need to forgive them, be friends, or agree on everything. The real question is much simpler: can the two of you create a setup that actually works for your child? In this video, I'm going to break down what healthy co-parenting really requires, the mistakes that quietly damage kids, and why liking your ex was never the actual goal. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 How to Co-Parent Even If You Don’t Like Your Ex 0:47 You do not need to be friends 1:32 Stop using your child as the messenger 2:55 Different homes do not need to match 4:20 Co-parenting does not mean giving in 5:56 Why parallel parenting isn't a long term fix 7:13 Let your child have two relationships 8:20 You don't have to forgive your ex 9:04 When co-parenting really isn't possible 10:30 What good co-parenting actually looks like ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: Do I have to be friends with my ex to co-parent well? A: No. Co-parenting only requires that you both handle the things that affect your child without pulling them into the middle. You can dislike your ex and still do this successfully. Q: Is it bad if my child's two homes have different rules? A: No, different rules in each home are normal and can even build resilience. Problems start only when one parent tells the child that the difference means something is wrong with the other parent. Q: What should I do if I still feel angry at my ex? A: You can still be angry and be a good co-parent, since the anger itself isn't the problem. What matters is that you direct it toward a friend, family member, or therapist instead of your child. 🎥 Watch Next    • This Divorce Mistake Can Make Your Child C...   This Divorce Mistake Can Make Your Child Choose Sides 📱 RESOURCES Website: https://www.compasspsychservice.com 🔔 If this video helped you see your child's experience differently, subscribe for more videos on helping children adjust after separation and divorce, common mistakes parents make without realizing it, and how to catch problems early before they become harder to fix. 💬 Which part of co-parenting is hardest for you right now, communication, different house rules, or managing your own feelings about your ex? Tell me in the comments. ABOUT DR. BILL MACLANEY Dr. Bill MacLaney is a clinical psychologist, Psy.D., with over 10 years of experience working with families going through separation, divorce, and high conflict custody situations. His work focuses on reunification therapy, co-parenting dynamics, and helping children build resilience after major family changes. His doctoral research examined resilience in adolescents, focusing on sense of mastery, sense of relatedness, and emotional reactivity. He helps parents understand the psychology of family relationships so they can create the psychological environment in which children become resilient after separation and divorce. #divorceandkids #coparenting #childpsychology #familytherapy #divorcerecovery