Tips for the Single Dad

There are ways to have a workable relationship with your ex and to make co-parenting go smoother. Remember, the kids are not a prize and the situation is not winner take all. Thirty-year-old Charlie is a plumber in his family’s business and has a lot of tips for other single fathers:

1.  Show that you are dependable. That eases the mind of the other parent who then may be willing to compromise. Charlie is punctual, and is reliable getting his son to school and activities. The mother knows her son is in good hands when he is with dad.

2. Be low-key in negotiations and leave your ego at home. Charlie claimed by being “submissive” during negotiations, he was able to get his son five nights a week for the last three years. Being aggressive is off-putting to the co-parent, who may balk at demands. By showing he was willing to talk things through and to listen gave him more time with his son. They were going to court to have a judge make a ruling for a point that could not be agreed upon. Standing on the court steps, this former couple looked at each other and said it was “nuts.” They went inside, cancelled the court hearing and talked things over at a nearby coffee house. Charlie advises to give a little more in negotiations so that they do not hit a road block.

3. Be willing to try something on a trial basis. The other parent may go along with your wishes if they do not feel locked into a new plan. – See more at: http://www.divorcemag.com/blog/a-guide-for-the-single-dad#sthash.7RR3reMf.xQgBye9C.dpuf

– See more at: http://www.divorcemag.com/blog/a-guide-for-the-single-dad#sthash.7RR3reMf.dpuf