Co-Parenting Matters This Week: Happy Parents…Happy Kids!
“…I accept full responsibility for my life and my choices — I sing no victim songs.
I willfully participate in the world using my voice to empower myself and others.”
Yvonne Bynoe, founder Sophisticated Woman and Mama
Okay, if ever there was a credo to live by, Yvonne Bynoe’s is it. The above is an excerpt from Yvonne’s credo, the guiding principle for her life and for the lives that she helps other women realize for themselves.
Yvonne, an author and a mom, founded Sophisticated Woman and Mama to “to assist Gen-X working mothers who want to end their work/life struggle. Instead of trying to balance their various roles I encourage them to first define their beliefs and values. This step helps working women to make decisions that are aligned with their individual versions of professional and family success. My philosophy is that women who continue to develop themselves bring more clarity to their roles as mothers, partners and professionals.”
We are so excited to have Yvonne join us on the Sunday, February 14th* “Co-Parenting Matters” show, “Happy Parents, Happy Kids.” On the show, we’ll talk about the importance of all co-parents healing and empowering themselves in the wake of a break up, and in particular, Yvonne will discuss her mission to“revolutionize motherhood” so that all women have “the courage to create a life and a motherhood experience that they passionately love.”
As always, “Co-Parenting Matters” airs 9:30 – 11 PM EST on BlogTalk Radio.
On the show, we’ll announce the winners of a special offer that Yvonne is making available to CoParenting101.org and WeParent.com readers! One winner from each site will win a COMPLIMENTARY Working Moms Startup Coaching Session with Yvonne. The session will include:
- The “Where Are You” Questions
- a meaningful inquiry into your life and aspirations. - A thirty-minute laser coaching discussion
In your session with Yvonne, you can:
- Chart a course to accomplishing a specific goal
- Design the framework for your ideal life – maximizing the things that bring you joy and fulfillment and reducing the draining “shoulds.”
- Create strategies to overcome limiting beliefs.
Yvonne will help you see what’s possible – and laser in on the best course of action for you based on your interests, values and intentions. Yvonne says, “Working Moms Startup sessions could result in a new decision for your life, inspire a make-over, generate a new business idea, or expose your inner critic…stay open to the possibilities.”
If you are ready to create your ideal life, or know a mother who is, don’t miss this valuable opportunity! Here’s how to enter in 2 easy steps:
(1) Email us at info AT weparent DOT com nominating yourself or another working mom for the complimentary start up session, then LEAVE A COMMENT HERE telling us you’ve submitted the nomination. Explain why you (she) should win the session, and how it can make a difference in your (her) life.
Then…
(2) Send a short email to Yvonne AT Sophisticatedwomanandmama DOT com containing the same info as in (1).
(3) Yvonne will choose one winner from each site.
(4) Winners will be announced during “Happy Parents, Happy Kids.”
Enter today and get one step closer to a happier you…which means, a happier kid!
*“Co-Parenting Matters” will take a brief break from the airwaves on Super Bowl Sunday February 7th…for the obvious reasons.
Co-Parenting Matters This Week: Mediation 101
January 20, 2010 by WeParent
Filed under Featured, Podcast, Spotlight, Upcoming Podcast
Abraham Lincoln probably wasn’t talking about co-parenting when he advised:
“Discourage litigation. Persuade neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often the real loser in fees, expenses, and a waste of time.”
But, his words perfectly describe our “Co-Parenting Matters” topic for this week: Mediation 101.
Join us this Sunday, January 24th at 9:30pm EST on “Co-Parenting Matters”, when “The Mediator”, Gene A. Johnson, Jr., educates us about mediation. In our recent interview with him, Gene suggested that despite being a viable alternative to the option of an ugly court battle, many parents may not be aware of mediation or fully understand what it is.
And, in the meantime, to learn more about mediation, check out Part 1 of our interview with “The Mediator.” It’s only a taste, so be sure to listen to “Co-Parenting Matters” this Sunday.
Tonight on Co-Parenting Matters: Raising Him Alone…Single Mothers Raising Sons
January 17, 2010 by WeParent
Filed under Featured Podcast, Podcast
Join us tonight for an engaging discussion about the “Raising Him Alone Campaign” and the experiences of single mothers raising sons. David Miller, co-founder of the “Raising Him Alone Campaign” will be joining us to talk about the campaign which is dedicated to supporting the social well-being of single mothers raising sons. And, along with David, we’ll have Sheron Smith as our guest. Sheron is the mother of Grammy-nominated rapper and actor, Mos Def. She has a powerful story to share about being a single mother raising a highly successful son in a toxic environment.
Call in to (646)347-0585 to join in the discussion. Or listen to the live stream at www.blogtalkradio.com/CoParentingMatters.
Be sure to check out the interview with did with David about the launch of the campaign last Spring.
Co-Parenting Matters Book Giveaway: Tell Us Why Divorce Sucks!
We’re excited to have Mary Jo Eustace, author of Divorce Sucks: What to do When Irreconcilable Differences, Lawyer Fees and Your Ex’s Hollywood Wife Make You Miserable join us as our guest on the next “Co-Parenting Matters” show. Eustace is an actress, singer, chef, mother, author of two bestselling cookbooks and was formerly married to Dean McDermott, Tori Spelling’s current husband and reality show co-star. Rather than write another tell-all, Mary Jo Eustace used her divorce as inspiration for a guide to help readers regroup after their own.
Want to win a copy of Divorce Sucks? Enter our giveaway contest by leaving a comment below telling us why, in your opinion, divorce sucks. Whether you are divorced, a grown up child of divorce, have contemplated divorce, or know someone who is divorced, we want to hear from you.
TWO winners of the book giveaway will be announced on this week’s show. We’re thrilled to have Mary Jo share her insights with us and with you. So, tune in Sunday at 9:30 PM EST. You may call in to 646.378.0580 or listen to the live stream online; send in questions in advance to: contact AT coparentingmatters DOT com; or of course, you can always tweet us. We’re @coparentingshow.
This Week on Co-Parenting Matters: Dads Raising Daughters
December 11, 2009 by WeParent
Filed under Featured Podcast, Podcast
Join us on “Co-Parenting Matters” this Sunday at 9 PM EST for a candid chat with two single dads about raising daughters. Our guests will be RJ Jaramillo, founder of SingleDad.com (who joined us for last Sunday’s lively conversation about “Sex and the Single Parent”), and Whitney Yakini Traylor, attorney, author, and Fatherhood Freestyler at WeParent.com.
And finally, because it never, ever gets old…
On the Air: Navigating the Legal Process–Tonight on Co-Parenting Matters
November 15, 2009 by Talibah Mbonisi
Filed under Podcast
Do you have legal questions about co-parenting, custody, child support, or other related issues? Join us this Sunday on for “Navigating the Legal Process” on “Co-Parenting Matters”, our live, talk show on BlogTalkRadio, co-hosted by Deesha Philyaw and Mike Thomas of CoParenting101.org. Learn about the family court system and strategies for minimizing negative impact on your children. Find out about alternatives to traditional family court. And, get your legal questions answered by our experts.
Our guests tonight are Amber Burton Small, Director of Business Development for the Indiana-based law firm, Jocham, Harden, Dimick & Jackson, and Dr. Arline Kerman of the Institute for Co-Parenting Resolution.
Can’t tune in? Post your question in the comments section, and we’ll be happy to ask it for you.
You Might Also Be Interested In:
Collaborative Family Law Keeps You out of Court
Words from the Wise: Should I Take Him to Court?
This Week on Co-Parenting Matters: Navigating the Legal Process
November 12, 2009 by Talibah Mbonisi
Filed under Podcast
Do you have legal questions about co-parenting, custody, child support, or other related issues? Join us this Sunday on for “Navigating the Legal Process” on “Co-Parenting Matters”, our live, talk show on BlogTalkRadio, co-hosted by Deesha Philyaw and Mike Thomas of CoParenting101.org. Learn about the family court system and strategies for minimizing negative impact on your children. Find out about alternatives to traditional family court. And, get your legal questions answered by our experts.
Can’t tune in on Sunday night? Post your question in the comments section, and we’ll be happy to ask it for you.
You Might Also Be Interested In:
Collaborative Family Law Keeps You out of Court
Words from the Wise: Should I Take Him to Court?
Co-Parenting Myths & Misconceptions
This Sunday, we debuted our new talk show, “Co-Parenting Matters” co-hosted by WeParent founder, Talibah Mbonisi; Deesha Philyaw and Mike Thomas, our friends from CoParenting101.org. If you missed the show, which focused on co-parenting myths, you can check it out right here. Whether the myths are held by other people or co-parents themselves, many of them get in the way of partnering effectively. So, check out the show, and in the meantime, here are a just a few of the myths the crew discussed:
· Co-parenting is for White people. Referencing a 2006 article in the Washington Post by Joy Jones, Talibah suggested that many of us have difficulty identifying role models for effective co-parenting. There seems to be a widely held belief that drama is the only or primary option for parents who are no longer together. Of course, this is on our list of myths, because we don’t believe it and are committed to proving that there are other possibilities and to exposing the power of partnering for the sake of our children. But, yeah…she said it.
· If you’re willing to make your co-parenting relationship work “for the sake of your children”, then you should have been able to make your marriage work for the sake of your children. Mike talked about the reality that in his co-parenting relationship, part of what makes getting along possible that the expectations of a romantic relationship no longer exist. So, the two of them are able to actually focus on the children, not on the drama of a relationship that wasn’t working.
· There must be an ulterior motive…y’all know you still want each other. Along the same lines as the point above, many people believe that if you get along as co-parents, then clearly you’re still sleeping together…or planning to. While this may be true for some parents who haven’t resolved some key issues in their romantic relationship, this isn’t a given. As Deesha pointed out, divorce/separation/break-ups are difficult, and we like to think that most people don’t end their relationships on a whim. We know it isn’t always true, and we also know that it can be difficult to navigate the intense feelings and doubts that accompany such a major decision. But, we say, give co-parents the benefit of the doubt; let them be innocent until proven guilty. Trust that their interest in partnering is truly for their children, and support that effort.
· If s/he would act right, then I would, too. So many of us wait to make changes in our parenting relationships until the other parent does. Ultimately, all we get is stalemate and the same-old-same-old, even though what we really want is entirely different. Once we start believing that what we do doesn’t matter, we give up our power to make changes that may positively impact our children. Talibah talked about her experience of seeing high-conflict co-parenting relationships completely shift, not because both parents chose to behave differently, but rather because one parent made a change inspiring the other to follow.
To hear more, listen to the show. And, definitely check out “5 Myths about Co-Parenting…or, What to Tell the Naysayers” on CoParenting101.org.
Co-Parenting Holiday Survival Guide…on the next “Co-Parenting Matters”
October 28, 2009 by Talibah Mbonisi
Filed under Podcast
With Thanksgiving less than a month away, the holidays are right around the corner. For many co-parents, this season is one of the most challenging in terms of shared custody, cooperation, and communication. How well you and your ex communicate and get along–or not–will determine how joyous and peaceful this time of year will be for your kids.
In our family, we generally alternate holidays. This year, our son will be with his father for the Thanksgiving break, me for the week Christmas and back to his father for New Year’s Eve. If we’re both in town, we’ll spend Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day together. But, if not, it means that our son is away from one of us. He seems to manage just fine, distracted by all the celebration, gifts and food–a phone call is enough. I, on the other hand, struggle sometimes, missing him and wanting holidays to be more like they were for me as a kid. But, knowing that he is happy and having a complete blast with people who love him gets me through it.
How will your family spend the holidays? Do you and your fellow co-parent have a solid kid-centered plan in place?
We’ll be discussing holiday survival tips for co-parents on the next episode of our new talk show, “Co-Parenting Matters.” Join me and our friends Deesha Philyaw and Mike Thomas of CoParenting101 as we discuss the highs and lows of co-parenting at this time of year and share tips for coping with being away from your children during the holidays,holiday shopping on a budget, and effective ways to make sure your children enjoy their holidays no matter what your relationship is with their other parent.
Our guests will be Brooke Randolph, licensed mental health counselor and parenting coordinator, along with Patricia Stallworth of Minding Your Money.
Tune in: November 1, 2009 from 9:30pm to 11pm
Call (646)378-0580 or visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CoParentingMatters to listen live and join in the discussion.
Send your questions in advance to contact@coparentingmatters.com, tweet us at @coparentingshow, or leave a comment below. We want to hear from you!
Debut of Co-Parenting Matters on BlogTalkRadio
October 21, 2009 by Talibah Mbonisi
Filed under Events
…the debut of Co-Parenting Matters,
a live, weekly talk show on BlogTalk Radio!
Debut show: Sunday, October 25, 2009
Co-Parenting Matters
because kids thrive when parents partner.
Join us every Sunday evening @ 9:30 PM EST for a lively discussion of a variety of co-parenting related issues: communication, single parenting, divorce, finances, custody, dating, wellness, stepfamilies, and much more.
Hosted by the founders of WeParent.com (Talibah Mbonisi) and CoParenting101.org (Deesha Philyaw and Michael Thomas), along with guest experts: attorneys, counselors, and fellow co-parents!
For our inaugural show, we will focus on Co-Parenting Myths. What misconceptions hinder your co-parenting relationship? Share your experiences and pose your questions by calling in to (646) 378-0580 during the show on October 25th.
What issues and questions would you like to hear discussed on Co-Parenting Matters? We are planning upcoming shows and welcome YOUR input! Leave a comment, send us an email (info AT weparent DOT org), or call in during the show.
Can’t join us on Sunday nights? Listen to Co-Parenting Matters podcasts at BlogTalk Radio your leisure.
We invite you to tune in!
