Parenting after divorce is difficult, and a coparenting challenge occurs when your coparent has a different parenting style. Learning to avoid conflict with your coparent means respecting that your child can have different rules and expectations in their other home, and still thrive.

Loyalty binds happen when a child feels torn between their parents. They may feel like they have to choose sides, protect one parent’s feelings, or hide how they really feel to avoid upsetting someone. Even without words, children pick up on tension — and it can leave them feeling stuck, guilty, or anxious.