PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE WITH IMPOSSIBLE CO-PARENTS!

Browse All Episodes

March 17, 2024

S4.E30. “How Do I Get Her to Stop?” The Purpose of Boundaries

Diane & Rick address Zachary’s question about how to get his co-parent to stop bringing her toxic boyfriend to the children’s activities. He worries the children will get in the middle of the conflict. They discuss the purpos...

Listen to the episode

March 10, 2024

S4.E29. Is It Possible or Probable? Let That Be Your Guide

Diane & Rick address listener Danny’s question about the top three issues facing high-conflict parents and how to resolve them. The hosts discuss the fact that the issues are not the problem, but what lies underneath them, su...

Listen to the episode

March 3, 2024

S4.E28. Daddy’s Little Girl

Shawn asks a question about how to help her 19-year-old daughter repair her relationship with her father. Diane & Rick discuss the importance of acting parental no matter how old the child is. The discuss the daughter’s dilem...

Listen to the episode

Feb. 25, 2024

S4.E27. The Problem with Self-Representation

Sometimes approaching your court case without an attorney can leave you vulnerable and without all the information you need to make good decisions. Diane & Rick explore a listener’s frustrations about her parenting plan langu...

Listen to the episode

Feb. 18, 2024

S4.E26. Who Gets Final Say? Another Parenting Plan Disaster

Diane & Rick answer listener Ryan’s question about which therapist he and his co-parent should choose for their daughter. The one nearest dad or mom? What really matters? Is it possible to have a “harmonious” discussion, as t...

Listen to the episode

Feb. 11, 2024

S4.E25. Narcissism in Co-Parenting: What is it? How do you respond? Will your child be a narcissist, too?

Diane & Rick discuss the mental health issues that are connected to someone with an extremely self-focused personality disorder, also known as a Narcissist. They differentiate the clinical information from what is promoted on...

Listen to the episode

Feb. 4, 2024

S4.E24. My Child is Gaslighting Me!

Diane & Rick explore the phenomenon of children engaging in “gaslighting” as a strategy to either survive their parents’ conflict or to manipulate a parent to get what they want. Is it a learned behavior from an alienating p...

Listen to the episode

Jan. 28, 2024

S4.E23. The Problem with Over-explaining a Concept!

Listener Heather shares a paragraph from her parenting plan entitled “Special Considerations”. Diane& Rick explore how you can go too far in trying to explain an abstract phrase and find yourself right back into the conflict ...

Listen to the episode

Jan. 21, 2024

S4.E22. Infants, Toddlers, and Teens - Oh, My!

Diane & Rick address listener Shary’s dilemma about parenting time with an infant. How much does the co-parent relationship determine the best schedule? The hosts break it down, as well as discuss the similarities between tod...

Listen to the episode

Jan. 14, 2024

S4.E21. Fifth Weekend Dilemma: A Good Case for Letting Go

In another episode in the parenting plan disaster series, Diane & Rick review Camile’s parenting plan language about 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends. They discuss the problems with wording that seems fair in its attempt, but desti...

Listen to the episode

Jan. 7, 2024

S4.E20. Birthday Party Disaster: Who’s in Charge?

Listener Michael shares his problematic parenting plan language about birthday parties with Diane & Rick. They discuss not only the problem with the wording, but what really matters to the child — the one being honored by the...

Listen to the episode

Dec. 31, 2023

S4.E19. What DOES the Word “Dinner” Mean?: Splitting Hairs in the Parenting Plan

Diane & Rick address a listener’s question about the meaning of dinner in his parenting plan. They discuss how some co-parents go to great lengths to misinterpret parenting plan language to interfere with the other parent’s ...

Listen to the episode

Dec. 24, 2023

S4.E18. Triggered and Trapped by My Emotions!

Listener Colleen writes to get advice on how to manage her emotions and not answer her co-parent’s lying emails and texts. Diane & Rick discuss the importance of becoming desensitized to the other parent’s trigger attempts. A...

Listen to the episode

Dec. 17, 2023

S4.E17. Do I Give In to My Child’s Request to Stay Away?

Diane and Rick look at a conflict that on the surface might seem easy to resolve for the Non-Impossible parent. But upon further exploration, they unpack long-lasting consequences to giving in to a child’s request to stay awa...

Listen to the episode

Dec. 10, 2023

S4.E16. Help! I’ve Done It All Wrong!

Diane & Rick address Trudy’s email that asks the question, “Is it too late for me?” They discuss strategies to help a 15-year-old stuck in the crossfire of his parents’ conflict - ABOUT HIM! They also tackle the tough dilemma...

Listen to the episode

Dec. 3, 2023

S4.E15. You Broke Your Vows, So It’s All Your Fault!

Listener Leah emails that her child is blaming her for his distress over the divorce because she “broke the vows” in her marriage to dad. Diane & Rick know this sentiment is not coming from the child. How do you counter that ...

Listen to the episode

Nov. 26, 2023

S4.E14. What to Do with the Non-Communicator

A non-impossible Facebook group contributor posts about a co-parent who refuses to communicate. Diane & Rick explore the fine line between setting an appropriate communication boundary and ghosting your co-parent. Is it about...

Listen to the episode

Nov. 19, 2023

S4.E13. Holiday Sabotage

Listener Travis asks how to manage holidays with the children when his co-parent historically makes plans on his time. He’s tired of her sabotaging every holiday, but doesn’t want the kids to be stuck in the middle. Should he...

Listen to the episode

Nov. 12, 2023

S4.E12. What to Do with Those Liars, Cheats & Scoundrels

Diane & Rick reach into the listener mailbag to reveal how listeners are benefitting from the show and how they continue to feel railroaded by the court system. They discuss how some disordered people get away with attaching ...

Listen to the episode

Nov. 5, 2023

S4.E11. My Mom Wants to Tell Me How to Co-Parent!

Co-parenting with an impossible parent can be difficult enough, but what happens when grandparents get involved and make things worse? Listener Chrislyn asks Diane & Rick to weigh in about this on the show. They discuss the i...

Listen to the episode

Oct. 29, 2023

S4.E10. Part Two: An Inside Look into Family Court Hearings

As a follow up to Part One, Diane and Rick describe the family court hearing they recently attended and interview one of the parties. They get a first-hand perspective about the personal devastation these types of cases caus...

Listen to the episode

Oct. 22, 2023

S4.E9. Holding Family Court Judges Accountable: Radical Resistance?

Diane & Rick report on a recent court hearing they attended, in which the judge admonished the parties to never come back to the court, if they knew what was best for the children. Diane questions what that really means. Is t...

Listen to the episode

Oct. 15, 2023

S4.E8. You Can’t Un-Baptize Your Child!

What if your co-parent informed you, after the fact, that your child was baptized — and according to your child, all of his/her extended family attended?! How do you respond when your child wants to know why you weren’t there...

Listen to the episode

Oct. 8, 2023

S4.E7. Listener Mashup!

Diane & Rick reach into the mailbag and answer several listener questions about common topics facing parents with impossibles on the other side. They discuss a variety of topics on the show and give episode reference numbers ...

Listen to the episode