Helpful books about co-parenting.

One of the most challenging aspects of any divorce can be learning how to cope with the changes that divorce brings, after the papers have been signed and the court proceedings are over. For couples with children to the marriage, adjusting to shared parenting time can be a constant source of tension and anxiety. Below are a few books that you may find useful as you strive to create a healthy and happy home environment for your children.

The Co-Parenting Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict After a Difficult Divorce

By Elizabeth Thayer, PhD and Jeffrey Zimmerman, PhD

Written by licensed psychologists, Dr. Elizabeth Thayer and Dr. Jeffrey Zimmerman, this book is designed to help parents work together to build a “co-parenting partnership” as they begin living their separate lives. It highlights common challenges that parents often encounter in a co-parenting situation and helps them overcome conflict and focus on their shared goal of raising healthy and happy children. This book is particularly useful for parents who are dealing with a high-conflict relationship as it helps them develop the skills they need to create a loving and harmonious home for their children.

Mom’s House, Dad’s House

By Isolina Ricci, PhD

Dr. Isolina Ricci is a licensed family therapist, lecturer, and mediator. Her book Mom’s House, Dad’s House highlights her revolutionary work with families and divorcing couples. The book offers a comprehensive guide that assists parents to understand family law and child custody. It helps parents negotiate a parenting plan that takes into consideration the child’s needs and helps them to build a family around two happy and stable homes. It helps couples to address real problems, such as long distance parenting, holidays, and remarriage, through practical solutions—examples, stories, tips, and self-tests.

Parenting After Divorce: Resolving Conflicts and Meeting Your Children's Needs

By Philip M. Stahl, PhD

Dr. Philip Stahl is a licensed psychologist with over thirty years as a practitioner, teacher, and author, specializing in high conflict families in divorce. He also teaches judges, attorneys, psychologists and other mental health professionals about issues affecting families and children. With his knowledge and experience, he authored the book, Parenting After Divorce, to assist parents through divorce and help them deal with its effects on children. Through practical support and real world examples, he offers advice in dealing with a difficult co-parent and avoiding situations in which the children end up in the middle of the conflict.

Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex: A Hands-on, Practical Guide to Communicating with a Difficult Ex-Spouse

By Julie A. Ross, M.A. & Judy Corcoran

Parenting expert Julie A. Ross and writer Judy Corcoran combine their knowledge, talents, and experience in this guide to co-parenting. For those dealing with an uncooperative ex-spouse, it offers real solutions to tough family issues. The book outlines common problems, helps parents examine their different roles in difficult situations, and offers strategies for effective mediation. Ross and Corcoran give practical communication techniques for successful co-parenting, such as the use of “I”-focused positive assertions and moderating body language. They also offer an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages inherent in modern forms of communication technology, including text messaging, Facebooking and e-mailing.

Raising the Kid You Love With the Ex You Hate

By Edward Farber, PhD

Dr. Edward Farber is a clinical psychologist with over thirty years of experience working with families. He is well familiar with the struggles and challenges that parents deal with in raising their children after divorce. He offers concrete and easy-to-follow steps that help co-parents avoid the differences that can get in the way of them being the best parents they can be. While recognizing the damage that can be done to a child, co-parents often struggle to be civil towards each other and overcome the challenges that naturally arise from having children living in two households. This book can help parents learn what is best to say and not to say to the children, to deal with child support and money issues, to handle holidays and special occasions, and to introduce a child to a new partner.

For Children

Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families

By Mark Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown

Dinosaurs Divorce is a book for your children to help them understand divorce words and what they mean and how life will change.

It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear: A Read-Together Book for Parents and Young Children During Divorce

By Vicki Lansky

This easy to read story revolves around a little bear who does not want to have two homes. It helps children to learn what divorce means and how family life will change and to understand that the divorce is not their fault.

Mom's House, Dad's House for Kids

By Isolina Ricci PhD

Dr. Isolina Ricci has taken her acclaimed guidelines for working through a divorce and put it in a readable form for older teens.