A Book Every Co-Parenting Family Should Read: The Co-Parenting Handbook by Karen S. Bonnell
When a relationship ends but children are involved, the parenting relationship continues. Making that transition well, from partners under one roof to co-parents in two separate homes, is one of the most important and most challenging things separating couples will do. The Co-Parenting Handbook by Karen S. Bonnell is one of the most comprehensive and practical guides available for navigating exactly that transition, and we recommend it as one of the first resources you reach for when embarking on the co-parenting journey.
Bonnell brings over thirty years of experience as a divorce and co-parent coach and family mediator to this guide. Her tone is reassuring and grounded, and her strategies are well-tested across a wide range of family structures and circumstances.
What the book covers
The handbook walks through the full arc of the co-parenting transition in detail:
moving from "spouse mind" to "parent mind" as you navigate the early stages of separation;
the journey from parenting together to co-parenting apart;
what the separation journey looks like for children at different developmental stages, including what to do and what to avoid;
settling into a two-home family structure;
co-parenting communication protocols;
decision-making regarding your children;
managing finances as co-parents (note: the author is American, so some specific details differ from Canada, but the overall principles apply);
co-parenting plans for holidays and major life events;
navigating co-parenting in public spaces such as children's sporting events;
introducing new romantic partners to your children's lives; and
raising well-adjusted children in a two-home family.
Why this book matters
The shift from spouse to co-parent is not automatic. It requires a deliberate change in perspective, new communication habits, and a shared commitment to putting your children's wellbeing at the centre of every decision. Bonnell provides a clear and compassionate framework for making that shift in a way that allows both children and parents to thrive.
In our mediation work with families, we see how much the quality of the co-parenting relationship shapes the agreements couples are able to reach. Clients who have thought carefully about what co-parenting will look like in practice tend to arrive at parenting arrangements they feel genuinely confident about. This book is an excellent way to start that thinking.
If you are working through a separation and navigating the co-parenting transition, consider scheduling a Pre-Mediation Initial Consultation to learn how we can help you build a parenting arrangement that works for your family.
About the Author
Karen S. Bonnell, MS, has over thirty years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families as a divorce and co-parent coach and family mediator. She regularly trains attorneys and mediators to assist parents in creating developmentally appropriate, child-centred parenting plans. She is the author of several well-respected books on co-parenting and two-home family life.
