What Parental Cooperation Does Not Mean:

Once again, when parents cooperate during or after a divorce, it creates an environment where children feel safe, satisfied, and loved.

Cooperation does not mean:

• pumping your children for information about the other parent

• controlling or trying to control the other parent (as this is usually done by using the child)

• using the children as messengers to carry angry messages back and forth

• hurting the other parent by use of the children

• having the children deliver or ask for child-support payments

• arguing or fighting in front of the children

• using derogatory comments about the other parent in front of the children

• asking the children with whom they wish to live

• placing the children in a position of having to take sides with either parent

Source:  Bienefeld, F., Williams, F.  Helping Your Child Through Your Divorce.  (1995).  Hunter House, Inc., Alameda, CA