Being a Mom/Bonus Mom

  Boundaries That Protect the Kids and Your Peace (Part 1) The why behind boundaries One of the biggest myths in co-parenting is that setting boundaries means you’re being difficult, uncooperative, or unwilling to put your kids first. That belief keeps many parents stuck—over-explaining, over-engaging, and carrying emotional weight that was never meant to be theirs. Here’s the truth: Healthy boundaries don’t distance you from your children. They create stability for them. Why Boundaries Matter in Co-Parenting Co-parenting often comes with history, hurt, and heightened emotions. Without boundaries, communication can quickly become reactive—late-night messages, unnecessary conflict, or the feeling that you’re always “on call.” That stress doesn’t stay between adults. Kids feel it, even when nothing is said out loud. Boundaries act as guardrails. They keep communication focused on what actually matters: the children. Boundaries Are Not About Control Boundaries are not ulti...

Part 2: Scripts and Boundaries for Co-Parenting When Accountability Is Missing When you’re co-parenting with someone who avoids accountability, the hardest part often isn’t logistics—it’s communication. Conversations derail. Words get twisted. Simple requests turn into emotional landmines. And before you know it, you’re exhausted, second-guessing yourself, and carrying more than your share of the emotional load. This is where boundaries and scripts matter. Not to control the other parent. Not to “win.” But to protect your peace and your child’s emotional safety. A Quick Mindset Shift (This Matters) Before we get into scripts, this needs to be said clearly: These tools are not designed to make the other parent understand you. They are designed to help you stay regulated, clear, and consistent—even when the other parent is not. If you go into these interactions hoping for validation, fairness, or accountability, you’ll likely leave disappointed. If you go in focused on clarity and contai...

  Co-Parenting When the Other Parent Lacks Accountability Co-parenting is hard in general. But it becomes a completely different experience when the other parent consistently avoids accountability, twists communication, or escalates conflict in ways that leave you feeling confused, drained, and questioning yourself. This kind of co-parenting doesn’t usually look explosive from the outside. In fact, it’s often subtle. Quiet. Easy to dismiss. And incredibly difficult to explain to people who haven’t lived it. If you’ve ever walked away from an interaction feeling emotionally hijacked—without being able to point to a single “big” incident—you’re not imagining it. What This Dynamic Often Looks Like In these situations, the challenge isn’t disagreement. It’s patterned behavior . You may notice things like: Conversations that constantly shift away from the original issue Responsibility being redirected or minimized Calm boundaries being framed as attacks You feeling pre...

  What Intentional Co-Parenting Actually Means (And What It’s Not) Intentional co-parenting isn’t about being calm all the time. It isn’t about having a great relationship with your ex, attending school events together without tension, or pretending the past doesn’t still sting. It’s about making deliberate choices that prioritize your child’s emotional safety—even when your own emotions are loud, complicated, and exhausted. Most parents aren’t taught how to co-parent. We’re taught how to stay together or how to leave, but not how to keep raising children alongside someone once the relationship changes. Intentional co-parenting lives in that gap. It’s not a personality trait or a gold standard you achieve. It’s a practice you return to—especially after you mess it up. What Intentional Co-Parenting Is Intentional co-parenting is choosing response over reaction. It’s pausing before sending the text you want to send. It’s asking yourself, “What does my child need from me here?” i...

 Hi, I’m Feleesha. I didn’t set out to become an expert in co-parenting. I became one by living it—through grief, growth, missteps, hard conversations, and the daily decision to keep showing up for my kids even when it would be easier to check out. The Intentional Co-Parent exists because co-parenting isn’t something you just figure out . It’s something you choose—over and over again—especially on the days when resentment is loud, emotions are raw, and old wounds try to drive the bus. I’m a parent navigating shared responsibility, shifting family dynamics, and the reality that love can change form without disappearing altogether. I’ve learned that intention matters more than perfection, that boundaries are an act of love, and that our children don’t need us to get along flawlessly—they need us to be emotionally safe, consistent, and willing to grow. This space is for the parents who are trying. Trying to communicate better. Trying to break cycles. Trying to protect their ki...