The Mother Rogue: Local and Long Distance Non-Custodial Parenting

The Crusading Non-Custodial Parent

As I am fond of reminding people, I've been a NCP for 15 years...and I fought my fearless co-parent for 14 of them. I fought to see my son. I fought to get missed visitation made up. I fought to be the person TheEx called when he needed a babysitter. I fought to be included in every minute of my son's life. I fought for TheEx to parent the way I thought our son should be parented. I fought for all the things I thought I should have as a NCP.  ...and then I stopped fighting. I learned to value what was most important: the person - the child - I so desperately wanted to be important to. The child I so desperately wanted to have a relationship with. I didn't give up. I didn't decide to follow the legal stuff about keeping my head held high. I decided to enjoy my brilliant kid, and to stop being so hard on myself.  This episode, we talk about that...

Coparenting During COVID-19

The current COVID-19 crisis has caused a lot of contention in the co-parenting community. Visitation is being denied in some cases. Parents are arguing in others. Missed visits are not being made up, or the residential parent is not agreeing to allow them to be made up when the crisis lifts. Many of us, including myself, are separated from our kids and don't know when we'll see them again. Before you call your divorce attorney, listen to my direct from the trenches experience. As always, if you need to vent, cry, rant, or rave, you know where to find me on Twitter: @cristinamr68 #divorce #custody #non-custodial parent #non-custodial Mom #non-custodial dad

How to be There for Your Child in an Emergency

Kids have emergencies. Kids get hurt. Kids get discouraged. Kids go to the E/R. Kids .. well they're mini-humans. They have all the same stuff adults have. When you're a long distance or local custodian more than 45 minutes away, you can't always get there when emergencies happen. First of all: don't feel guilty about that. YOU are human. This week, I talk about ways to be there for your kids when emergencies happen and you can't be there in person. As always, feel free to reach out with your feedback, comments, suggestions for future episodes, etc.: CristinaMR68@gmail.com; @cristinamr68 (Twitter); www.themotherrogue.com. Happy Listening. You are all GREAT parents!!!!

Cheerfully Paying Child Support (Unless You’re Paying in New Jersey)

Child Support. One of the things coparents argue about the most. Here’s why you should pay it if not cheerfully, then at least not angrily, and how it helps your kids to do so.

Last Minute and Making Mistakes

We’re human, we’re parents. We make mistakes, including canceling plans last minute. Like I did recently. Let’s talk about that.