Here are some ways to help you deal with conflict:
- Talk to a counsellor. Ask your GP to put you in touch with one in your area.
- Mediation can help you reach agreements about practical issues such as where your children will live, how much time they will spend with each of you, money, or property. Use a mediation session to talk openly and honestly about disagreements and reach a joint decision about the things that affect you and your child.
What to do next
- Decide what is causing the conflict; if it comes from emotional hurt, deal with that first, perhaps by talking to a counsellor.
- If the conflict comes from disagreements about practical issues, take positive steps to resolve them – a mediation service may be able to help.
- Agree with the other parent that your child will not see or hear any conflict between you.
Trisha’s story
"We used to get into terrible fights until I found Lewis crying in his room over an argument I’d had with
his dad. We worked out that we were mostly fighting about seeing the children and Alan not paying
anything towards looking after them. We still squabble but now we’ve sorted out the money and Alan’s seeing
the children regularly, I think the children are much happier."
Trisha, mother
