Co-parenting with ADHD

Tips on Co-parenting with an ADHD Ex-Spouse:

Separation/divorce is difficult and painful. When there is a child/children involved, it gets more complicated. Can you imagine the added challenges of co-parenting with an ADHD ex-spouse?

​​Your ADHD co-parent's Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria can be triggered and their emotional regulation is off the chart during this painful transition. Their internalized shame around being a failure now gets intensified with the false belief that they are the home wreckers.

​​The stress of dealing with separation and divorce can worsen their capacity to plan/deal with details: children can be late to school or get picked up late, school-required paperwork may be missing, home assignments not done, and challenges with following through collaborative tasks with school, like PTA meetings or IEP meetings.

​An inconsistent co-parenting schedule due to the ADHD co-parent's spontaneity or distractibility can pull you into this crazy and messy schedule. Both you and your children may feel disoriented, anxious, and out of control.

Setting firm boundaries, divide up co-parenting tasks based on your individual resources, getting help from a co-parenting professionals, and letting go of control can help you move from surviving to thriving when co-parenting with an ADHD ex-spouse.