A Reddit listener poses a common question about how to spend their first hour with a guardian ad litem in order to make a good impression. Diane & Rick discuss the weight of that responsibility and how stressful it can be. Th...
Diane & Rick address listener James’ question about the extremes his children experience between him and their mom. He is the relaxed parent and she is very rigid. Does it harm children to have such different parents? Do they...
Heather wonders how to talk to her 11-year-old son about her co-parent’s marijuana use. He’s asking a lot of detailed questions, and she wants him to be able to trust his instincts. Are there times when telling the truth is b...
Listener Heather writes to share her experience of using our DRAGON method to solve her childcare issue, rather than trying to convince her co-parent to help out. Diane & Rick discuss the value and emotional freedom of findin...
Diane & Rick explore the characteristics of “good” people who fall prey to coercively controlling partners. They discuss the need to emotionally manage the reaction of their partners, to be a good co-parent, and to be fully u...
Diane &Rick answer Jennifer’s question about her co-parent letting the children watch rated “R” horror movies. They discuss the importance of not fighting against what is out of her control, but finding a way to show interest...
Todd emails a question about convincing the court to order a communication protocol or app. He wonders if he should fight for it or let it go. And by the way, he says his co-parent is a narcissist! Diane & Rick talk about the...
Diane & Rick welcome podcaster Karen McMahon on this episode to discuss Lauren’s email about co-parenting with her cheating ex. What is the expectation when you have been betrayed? How do you help your children who also may ...
Jenny shares her frustration with her narcissistic co-parent, who would rather she disappear than exercise her parenting time. But Jenny isn’t giving up, despite her physical limitations due to a brain injury. Diane & Rick sh...
Chris writes in and says things were going very well for him and his co-parent until he started dating seriously after several years post divorce. He did everything right, but now things have gone horribly wrong. What is happ...
Diane & Rick address John’s email about how to help his 16-year-old son when he and the son are stuck between mom and step-mom’s conflict. Discussed in this episode are ways to build a relationship with a teen who isolates to...
How do you know when it’s a good idea to seek the court’s help with co-parenting issues? Diane & Rick discuss four things to consider as they process listener Jess’s questions about her uncooperative co-parent. She was hoping...
Kelvin rants about how his narcissistic co-parent steals his credit as a parent and is constantly inserting herself into his life. He asks what he should do with all of his anger. Diane & Rick explore managing expectations, f...
Eva emails the show and asks how to move forward with the love of her life and maintain both of their children’s school and activity schedules. The issue is, they live 90 minutes apart from one another. In order to move in to...
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...
Therapist Carol poses a question about a client’s narcissistic co-parent, who apparently wants to buy his 14-year-old’s love. Diane & Rick explore the complications of weaning from the parent/child bond in the teen years, as ...
Gary wonders what custody plan can work for his two young children, given that their mother plans to move in with someone she had an affair with, who is a foster parent to four children. Diane & Rick discuss how to manage liv...
A listener wonders if an infant should have overnight visits with the father while she is breastfeeding. Diane and Rick explore this common concern and discuss what is important at this tender age of development. For a deeper...
Diane & Rick address a difficult listener question about child abuse. Jennifer’s 5-year-old son doesn’t want to see his dad because dad is abusing him. Mom is worried about her son and wonders if she should withhold custody ...
A listener surprisingly asks if his ex might be right about him. Maybe he IS an impossible co-parent after all! Diane and Rick address this unusual question in a Jeff Foxworthy style - You might be an impossible co-parent if…...
In this replay of a 2022 episode (S1:E52), Diane & Rick talk about the personal value of forgiveness and the destruction of hanging on to bitterness. Listener Carolina wonders how it is possible to co-parent with someone who ...
In this replay of a 2021 episode (S1:E16), Diane & Rick address a listener dilemma about sticking to the parenting plan or being flexible with weekend time. Australian Blogger Bella Duncan ( www.akidwithtwohomes.com ), a chil...
In this replay of episode S1:E65, Diane and Rick discuss an email from Thomas in Ontario, who shares his dilemma about attending his toddler’s doctors appointments, while having to endure his co-parent’s drama or failure to i...
In this replay from season 1, Diane & Rick get real about dealing with a narcissistic co-parent. Phrases like crazy-making, gas-lighting. twisting words, and avoiding responsibility, are just a few of the many complaints made...