Parenting through divorce and becoming co-parents and mastering the art of working together for your children's sake is the most beneficial thing parents can do for their children. Parents who make a successful transition from being a married couple to cooperative parents in the raising of their kids are in a better position to create a healthy emotional environment for their children. Children need to maintain a healthy relationship with both parents. The loss of the previous family structure is a transition for children. The loss of the relationship with a parent can be devastating. It's natural for children to have many emotions about a divorce. They may feel guilty and imagine that they "caused" the problem. This is particularly true if they heard their parents argue about them at one time. Kids may feel angry or frightened. They may be worried that they will be abandoned by or "divorced from" their parents.

It may be helpful to consider the relationship with your co-parent like that of a casual acquaintance or colleague at work. This is undoubtedly easier said than done. Yet, when parents make a special effort to do this consistently it becomes second nature. Also, this consistency is good for the other parent and it often times encourages them to adopt this same stance with you. If you think about it, you do not have to like someone to work productively with them. Many parents feel guilty, angry, or hurt by what happened during a marriage or divorce. The more you can leave these feelings out of your dealings with the other parent after the divorce the better for everyone.