[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ text_font_size=”16px” header_text_color=”#c5b2b1″ header_2_text_color=”#c5b2b1″ header_3_text_align=”justify” header_3_text_color=”#c984a4″ text_orientation=”justified” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
When you have children, or other commitments (such as joint assets or family relationships) that tie you to your soon-to-be-ex-husband for the longer term, you need to establish a healthy, workable relationship whenever possible. Your future relationship with your children’s father won’t always be easy, in some cases, will never be; but careful planning means you and the children can move forward.<\/span><\/p>\n This is one of the most important aspects of planning your future. It affects your happiness, the happiness of your children, and can make all the difference with practical negotiations.<\/span><\/p>\n It is, of course, also one of the trickiest aspects of divorce. Wouldn\u2019t it be great if soon-to-be-ex-husband’s did exactly what you wanted, didn\u2019t rock the boat, just let you get on with the rest of your life? Unfortunately, even with the most positive and conflict-free relationships, it\u2019s just not like that. Your ex has their own interests, wants and needs and it means you and they need to find a way through discussions in a calm, reasonable way. <\/span><\/p>\n When you feel like your soon-to-be-ex-husband isn\u2019t listening, or simply isn\u2019t interested in anything but their own needs, being reasonable is hard! But remember, your children will be watching and listening all the time.Your future relationship with your children’s father is a video tape waiting to be replayed. They will learn from you how to deal with conflict.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So, how do you establish respectful communication, even when the heat is on and tempers are fraught? <\/span><\/p>\n Here are my top three tips:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Getting into tit-for-tat games when pride is hurt and your soon-to-be-ex-husband is being childish is so easy you barely notice you are doing it. But remember the bigger picture. This is the rest of your life you\u2019re talking about. You will no longer be married to your ex and don\u2019t have to participate in their games. As the saying goes: <\/span><\/p>\n \u2018You don\u2019t have to attend every argument you\u2019re invited to.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n So think about the future life you want. How you want to feel, the way you\u2019d like people to describe you. And let that be your foundation for communication \u2013 not any of the pettiness that might be going on with your soon-to-be-ex-husband.<\/span><\/p>\n We all need to role model to others how we want to be treated. When we treat others badly, or let ourselves be treated badly, those around us (including children) will think that\u2019s OK. So we need to set boundaries<\/a> around acceptable language and behaviour. We all know this isn\u2019t easy. Think of it like training a puppy \u2013 it takes persistence and consistency. Responding to good behaviour and ignoring poor behaviour means that the puppy learns over time how to act. <\/span><\/p>\n When emotions run high it\u2019s easy to flare up. This is why I suggest you always take a moment to pause before responding to communication, whether it\u2019s written or spoken. Taking a pause means you can take back control, look at the bigger picture and decide on the wisest response for you and your children. You get to reset the tone if needed, as well as state your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n But what happens when it\u2019s difficult to untangle yourself from your emotions or know what the best response is? When we have difficult relationships it\u2019s easy to see things through dark lenses. Perhaps your ex read something into that email you thought was completely straightforward and innocent. And perhaps you twist their words when they are trying to be reasonable. We\u2019re human. It happens. And while friends are great, this is not<\/i> the time to share a bottle of wine and discuss all the ways your ex is a complete idiot. You want the heat turned down, not up! And you also want to be heard, to be treated respectfully and not to be taken advantage of.<\/span><\/p>\n This is where Clarity Over Coffee<\/span><\/a> can help. It\u2019s a simple, flexible way for you to get confidential support, knowing that I\u2019ll help you see blind spots, stand up for your rights and needs. I’ll (gently!) call out your own unhelpful behaviour if needed. It\u2019s a way to keep on track, moving forward, focused on the future so you don\u2019t get dragged into unnecessary drama or become a doormat. <\/span><\/p>\n Each week we\u2019ll have a 30-minute call, focused on whatever you need. And in between times, you can message me via Voxer whenever you want, knowing you\u2019ll get a quick reply. <\/span><\/p>\n Clarity Over Coffee<\/a><\/span> means you have an ally at the touch of a button. A safe place to talk, a safe place to vent, and a place to plan for the future you want without it feeling overwhelming. <\/span><\/p>\n Ready to get started on planning your future? Book in a call with Emma today! <\/span><\/p>\n [Message Emma]<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Emma Heptonstall,<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0the Divorce Alchemist is author of the Amazon best selling book\u00a0How to be a Lady Who Leaves, the Ultimate Guide to Getting Divorce Ready<\/strong><\/a>. A former lawyer, Emma is a practising family mediator and founder of Get Divorce Ready the online self study and group programmes. Emma has been featured on BBC Radio, The Telegraph, the iPaper and in Marie Claire Magazine. To find out more visit\u00a0www.emmaheptonstall.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How to reset: negotiating your future relationship with the father of your children When you have children, or other commitments (such as joint assets or family relationships) that tie you to your soon-to-be-ex-husband for the longer term, you need to establish a healthy, workable relationship whenever possible. Your future relationship with your children’s father won’t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-children-and-divorce","category-divorce-support"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Future-relationship-with-childrens-father.png?fit=1000%2C516&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6aDhr-17g","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/span>Think long term<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/span>Set boundaries<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/span>Pause<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/span>When you need help<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>The Divorce Alchemist<\/span><\/h3>\n