Going through a divorce is an understandably difficult time. This situation sometimes becomes harder for New Jersey couples who have children together. To help ease the transition, many adults decide to make things easier on their children by co-parenting. But what if you’re co-parenting with a narcissist? If so, here’s what to do.
Get it in writing
One of the most common traits of a narcissist is needing to always be in control. Since co-parenting is about equally involving parents in a child’s life, this type of behavior can mess things up fast. To combat someone who’s always trying to control things, it’s a good idea to have everything in writing. By communicating through email, text, and other written forms of communication, you can document when the other parent is trying to take over arrangements.
Set clear terms
Another important thing to take care of regarding custody and visitation matters involves setting clear agreement terms. For instance, both parents can determine how many times one parent is allowed to call the other one. This rule can prevent a narcissistic parent from hassling the other parent too much, especially when the child is present.
Surround yourself with a strong support circle
Instead of spending all of your time and energy focusing on your child’s other parent, use this time to strengthen yourself. You can also surround yourself with a strong support network of people you care about. While it might not sound like much, this network can give you confidence while dealing with your ex.
In conclusion, co-parenting with a narcissist isn’t often easy. However, you can use certain methods to help ensure that this person doesn’t take over you and your child’s life post-divorce.