1. Give yourself credit.

 

Start by giving yourself credit. Childrearing is one of life’s greatest challenges even without the burden of conflict with one’s co-parent.

There are no parades or plaques for such things, but, in fact, anyone who protects a child from conflict is a hero. Every act of doing so is heroic. So honor yourself for every time:

  • You’ve remembered a child’s fragile heart instead of exploding.
  • You’ve kept embarrassing information about your co–parent from a child.
  • You’ve complimented the child’s co-parent to the child (instead of sharing criticism).
  • You’ve helped your co-parent’s plans work out, even if the favor wasn’t returned.
  • You remembered that as hard as things are for you, they are many times harder for your children.

    • “The world’s battlefields have been in the heart chiefly; more heroism has been displayed in the household than on the most memorable battlefields in history.”

    —Henry Ward Beecher