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How do parents support each other’s relationships with the child?

Good co-parents will always encourage their children to have love for the other parent, and they will never speak ill of the other parent in front of the child. However, as much as this is true, and as much as parents say they agree with it, they might not always be true to these precepts in their actions.

For this reason, parents may want to include specific language within their parenting agreements that requires the other parent to adhere to certain standards of decency when it comes to preserving the sacredness of the child’s relationship with the other parent.

Here’s some excellent language that can help in this regard:

  • The parents agree that they will not speak negatively about the other parent.
  • The parents will not permit others to speak negatively about the other parent when the children are present.
  • The parents will not speak poorly about the other parent’s current or present relationship, friends or family in the presence of the children.
  • The parents agree to always encourage affection and love between the other parent and their children. The parents also agree to encourage the children to express their love for the other parent.
  • The parents will not encourage or suggest that the child call anyone else, other than both of the parents who are party to this agreement, by the names “mom,” “dad,” “mother” or “father.”
  • The parents agree not to ask the child about the life of the other parent.
  • The parents will not throw away, give away or destroy gifts provided to the child by the other parent without the other parent’s permission.

If you include the above language in your parenting plan, it can do wonders to circumvent the potential threat of the other parent interfering with your relationship with your child negatively.

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