Single Mom Notebook: How To Talk To The Ex
Although Tiger and his wife have been one of the most recent high profile couples fighting a very public battle, we still remember Jon and Kate Plus 8. Towards the end, Jon and Kate Plus 8 taught single moms how not to talk to the Ex., i.e. through lawyers, the TV Show and media in general. When couples split up, there are many mixed emotions; guilt, anger, frustration, sadness are all a part of the mess of a break-up especially when kids are involved.
For some, breaking up amicably is so hard, as with Jon and Kate, that they need to battle their way through formal channels such as a courtroom. Unfortunately, Jon and Kate’s story is not a unique one. Many single mothers face the challenge of having to maintain communication with their child’s father while trying to keep the peace, myself included. Here are some ways to keep battling to a minimum:
1. Text messaging. If you both have texting available, take advantage of it. It is immediate enough to get your messages across right away yet distant enough that the other person won’t irk you as much. I love sending text messages when I can’t or choose not to talk to my son’s father on the phone. It is simple and easy and headache-free…usually.
2. Use email. I love this simple yet efficient tool. Most of us have access to a computer and have an email address. This really worked for me when I went to California with kiddo last summer. His father could communicate with him using one of my email addresses and kiddo was happy writing back.
3. Telephone. Back to the classic on this one. Sometimes, you just can’t avoid talking to your child’s father. It needs to be done, so keep your cool while you do it. If there is no other way to do it, just call.
Yes, these three simple tools are just that, simple. And, no the mixed feelings don’t go away just because you use them. However, you can deal with things a little bit easier if you put these methods into place. Remember that your child is the most important person. Sometimes we have to set aside our feelings to get things done for our children. I have. So far it has worked, though not always. However, I’m still trying and I’m still here.
Coming up – What To Say To The Ex To Keep Battles To A Minimum
