The daily challenges of co-parenting: 'It's overwhelming but I've learned that it doesn't have to mean conflict'

"In the early days of pregnancy with my son, I went on a weekend trip to Paris with his dad. I remember us sitting by the Eiffel Tower, full of nerves and excitement, imagining what kind of parents we would be. We talked about our hopes for the future, painting a picture of the family life we thought lay ahead."

"Any relationship break-up or change to the life you imagined can be tough, and it's even more complicated if you share children. But as Orla Donoghue writes, there are ways to make it work"

"Not once did it cross my mind that we'd end up parenting from two separate homes. But shortly before my son's second birthday, our relationship ended and our family's story took a very different turn."

Relationship break-ups or changes to the life imagined can be emotionally difficult, and those challenges increase when children are shared. Early pregnancy often sparks hopeful conversations about future parenthood and family life. Plans for a single household can suddenly shift when a relationship ends. Parenting from two separate homes becomes a new reality for many families. Transition moments can occur unexpectedly, such as a separation before a child's second birthday. Despite the emotional upheaval, practical approaches and cooperative co-parenting strategies can help parents make the arrangement work for the child's wellbeing.

Read at Independent