When the romantic relationship that exists between you and your child’s other parent ends in Arizona, you may need to learn to co-parent with one another if you are going to share custody. This may prove difficult in even the best of situations. However, if your co-parent has narcissistic tendencies, you may find the co-parenting process even more difficult to navigate.
According to Psychology Today, co-parenting with a narcissist often proves difficult, and this may be due in part to the fact that narcissistic individuals tend to seek total control over a situation. While co-parenting with a narcissist may prove difficult, there are certain things you might do along the way to make things easier for everyone. When it comes to co-parenting with a narcissist, consider taking the following steps.
Minimize contact
It may not be realistic to completely eliminate contact between you and your child’s other parent. However, you may decide to communicate exclusively via email or under other specific terms. The less you and your former partner communicate, the lower the chances of conflicts arising between you.
Get everything in writing
It is also wise to get custody terms and other specifics in writing when you have to co-parent with a narcissist. It may help to be highly specific in the legal documents outlining the co-parenting relationship. When you have your agreed-upon parenting terms in writing, it becomes difficult for your former partner to argue against them.
A parenting plan is often a strong line of defense against a narcissistic co-parent. The more information you include about pickups, drop-offs, decision-making and other relevant matters, the better the chances of you being able to co-parent successfully – regardless of your one-time partner’s personality traits.
