Carol Delzer publishes new book, Eight Weeks to Collaborative Co-Parenting

What’s in Carol’s New book – Eight Weeks to Collaborative Co-Parenting by Carol Delzer 
How to Benefit from This 8-Week Course
This course’s aim is to pass on the gift of a collaborative, committed co-parent relationship to you. In order to receive the benefits of this course, you need to do your part. Take the necessary time to read the book—one chapter a week—and do the Action Items each week which are listed at the end of each chapter.
This book can also be used in co-parenting groups, ideally led by a counselor or therapist.
If that is not available, find other people who want to be better co-parents and work through the book as a group.
During your journey you may be pleasantly surprised to find that there are additional benefits as well. At the end of the 8 weeks, you will be more than a better parent—you’ll also discover a more productive, peaceful, and happier you.
“Forget mistakes. Forget failure.  Forget everything except what you’re going to do now, and do it.  Today is your lucky day.”
~ Will Durant, American historian
Contents:
Week 1: Beginning Your Journey

• The Importance of Collaborative Co-Parenting for Your Children…………………
• The Course Agreement (Exercise)……………………………….
• Collaborative Co-Parenting Course Agreement……………………………….
• What Do You Want to Gain From This Course? (Exercise) ……………………………….
• Creating a New Life……………………………….
• Letting Go of the Past……………………………….
• “Letting Go” Affirmations ……………………………….
• The Nine Steps to Forgiveness……………………………….
• What is Unique about My Child? (Exercise) ……………………………….
• Understanding Children’s Emotions……………………………….
• Tips on How to Respond to Your Children’s Feelings……………………………….
• Voices of the Children……………………………….
  • Children on Parents Fighting……………………………….
  • Children on Feelings……………………………….
  • Children Confused by Divorce……………………………….
  • Children Feeling Caught in the Middle……………………………….
  • Children Unprepared……………………………….
  • Children Feeling Reassured……………………………….
• Your Children (Exercise) ………………
• Week 1 Review………………
• Week 1 Action Items ……………………………….

 
Week 2: Building the Collaborative Co-Parenting Relationship

• Transitioning from Marriage Partners to Parenting Partners……………………………….
• Forming a Successful Parenting Partnership……………………………….
• Talking to Children About Divorce……………………………….
• Building Trust Between Co-Parents……………………………….
• Children’s Need for Trust……………………………….
• What Is a Mission Statement? ……………………………….
• Mission Statement Sample #1……………………………….
• Mission Statement Sample #2……………………………….
• Writing a Mission Statement (Exercise) ……………………………….
• Sample Action Words……………………………….
• Sample “Standards” or Values to Incorporate……………………………….
• Building Confidence in the Co-Parenting Partnership……………………………….
• Business Coach Marlys Thompson Uses “Six C’s for an Effective Team” …………………
• Collaborative Co-Parenting Guidelines……………………………….
• Collaborative Co-Parenting Guidelines: Examples…………….
• Weekly Updates……………………………….
• Tips for Weekly Updates……………………………….
• Collaborative Co-Parenting Meetings……………………………….
• Requesting a Co-Parenting Meeting……………………………….
• Even Horses Benefit from Cooperation……………………………….
• When Issues Won’t Wait……………………………….
• Emergency Calls……………………………….
• Placing an Emergency Call……………………………….
• Annual Meetings……………………………….
• Setting an Agenda……………………………….
• Holding the Meeting……………………………….
• Guidelines for Holding Meetings……………………………….
• Doing This for Your Children……………………………….
• Your Co-Parent Relationship (Exercise)……………
• Week 2 Review………………
• Week 2 Action Items ……………………………….

 
Week 3: Resolving Conflict

• Conflict in Divorce and Breakups……………………………….
• How Divorce Affects Children……………………………….
• Understanding the Creative Value in Conflict……………………………….
• Resolving Conflict……………………………….
• Tools for Communication……………………………….
  • Tool 1: Listen
    • Improve Your Listening Skills
  • Tool 2: Create Clear, Effective Messages
    • Using Observations, Thoughts, Feelings, and Requests to Express Yourself
  • Tool 3: Stand Up for Yourself
  • Tool 4: Keep Your Body Language Open
  • Tool 5: Choosing Your Words and Tone
• How to Keep People from Pushing Your Buttons……………………………….
• How Fear and Ego Push Our Buttons……………………………….
• Choose Your Battles Carefully……………………………….
• Flexibility……………………………….
• Interest-Based Motives vs. Position-Based Motives……………………………….
• Good-Faith Negotiations……………………………….
• Three Key Things to Take into Negotiations……………………………….
• Creating a Safe Environment for Negotiations……………………………….
• Value the Ongoing Relationship……………………………….
• Who Me? ……………………………….
• Humor Can Be Hurtful……………………………….
• Conflict Reflection (Exercise) ………
• Week 3 Review………………
• Week 3 Action Items ……………………………….

 
Week 4: Managing Emotions

• Managing Emotions……………………………….
• Exploring Emotions……………………………….
• The Leaver Versus the Leavee……………………………….
• Making Choices from Wisdom Instead of Fear……………………………….
• Attracting What You Feel……………………………….
• Tools for Managing Emotions……………………………….
• Releasing Emotions through Movement……………………………….
• Mindfulness and Meditation……………………………….
• Eating Healthy Food……………………………….
• A “Brain Healthy” Diet……………………………….
• Counseling……………………………….
• Understanding Fear……………………………….
• How Fear Progresses……………………………….
• Are You Operating from Fear or Wisdom? ……………………………….
• How to Know When You’re Operating from Wisdom……………………………….
• Fear vs. Wisdom (Exercise) ……………
• Am I in This Alone? ……………………………….
• Anger: A Fear-Based Emotion……………………………….
• A Conversation with Anger……………………………….
• The Physical Effects of Anger and Fear (Exercise) …………………
• Depression……………………………….
• Trying Times, Wisdom, and Your Children……………………………….
• Goals……………………………….
• It’s Important to Write Down Your Goals……………………
• Create an Action Plan (Exercise) ……………………………….
• Procrastination……………………………….
• Be Willing to Change Direction……………………………….
• Visualizing……………………………….
• A Positive Co-Parent Visualization……………………………….
• Week 4 Review………………
• Week 4 Action Items ……………………………….

 
Week 5: Appreciating Differences

• Knowing Yourself ……………………………….
• The DISC Assessment……………………………….
• Your DISC Assessment (Exercise) …………
• What Did You Learn? (Exercise) …………
• Appreciating Differences……………………………….
• What Style Parent Are You? (Exercise) …………………………
• The Extrovert and the Introvert……………………………….
• Gender Differences……………………………….
• Money Differences……………………………….
• Religious Differences……………………………….
• Respecting the Other Person’s Parenting Style……………………………….
• Benefits of Different Co-Parenting Styles (Exercise) …………
• Week 5 Review………………
• Week 5 Action Items ……………………………….

 
Week 6: Parenting Tools

• Twelve Positive Discipline Parenting Tools ……………………………….
  • Parenting Tool #1: Be Kind and Firm
  • Parenting Tool #2: Connection Before Correction
  • Parenting Tool #3: Limited Choices
  • Parenting Tool #4: Curiosity Questions
  • Parenting Tool #5: Redirection
  • Parenting Tool #6: Follow Through
  • Parenting Tool #7: Quality Time
  • Parenting Tool #8: Everyone in One Boat
  • Parenting Tool #9: Positive Time-Out
  • Parenting Tool #10: Family Meetings
  • Parenting Tool #11: Take Time for Training
  • Parenting Tool #12: Always Encourage
• Single Parenting……………………………….
• Balancing Single Parenting Work and Play ……………
• Listening to Your Children ……………
• Listening: A Story ……………
• How to Listen to Your Children ……………
• Shutting Down Communication ……………
• Teamwork: Family Meetings ……………
• How to Conduct Family Meetings ……………
• The Benefits of Family Meetings ……………
• Children and Money Management ……………
• Children’s Basic Money Management Principles ……………
• Personal Timeline (Exercise) ………
• Week 6 Review………………
• Week 6 Action Items ……………………………….

 
Week 7: Designing a Workable Parenting Plan

• Children’s Ages, Needs, and Developmental Stages ……………
• The Developmental Stages for Children……………
• The Developmental Stages……………
  • Infancy: Birth to 18 Months
  • Designing a Parent Plan for Infants
  • Early Childhood: 18 Months to 3 Years
  • Designing a Parent Plan for Toddlers
  • Play Age: 3 to 5 Years
  • Designing a Parent Plan for Preschoolers
  • Early School Age: 6 to 9 Years
  • Designing a Parent Plan for Early School Age
  • Pre-teen: 10 to 12 Years
  • Designing a Parent Plan for Pre-teens
  • Early Adolescence: 13 to 15 Years
  • Designing a Parent Plan for Early Adolescence
  • Late Adolescence: 16 to 18 Years
  • Designing a Parent Plan for Late Adolescence
• Siblings……………
• A Change in Plans……………
• Designing Workable Parent Agreements……………
• Legal Custody/Physical Custody……………
• Ideas for Parent Plans……………
• How Do I Get Started? ……………
• Sharing Time……………
• Co-Parent Monthly Calendar……………
• Holiday Schedule……………
• Information Exchange and Access……………
• Communication……………
• Decisions about the Children……………
• Conduct……………
• School and Education……………
• Your Parent Plan (Exercise) ……
• Week 7 Review………………
• Week 7 Action Items ……………………………….

 
Week 8: Special Challenges

• Long-Distance Parenting……………
• Technological Tools……………
• Making Long-distance Parenting Work……………
• The Obstacle in Our Work……………
• Parallel Parenting……………
• When Parents Cannot Communicate……………
• What is Parallel Parenting? ……………
• Communication Tips in Parallel Parenting Arrangements……………
• Exposure to Secondhand Smoke……………
• Where Can I Smoke? ……………
• Drugs and Alcohol……………
• What is Drug and Alcohol Abuse……………
• How Addictions Affect Children……………
• Common Beliefs in Families Experiencing Addiction……………
• Violence……………
• Types of Domestic Violence……………
• How Domestic Violence Affects Children……………
• Having a Safety Plan……………
• New Significant Others……………
• Handling Feelings of Insecurity……………
• The Nirvana Mommas……………
• Over assertive Stepparents……………
• Your Family’s Special Challenges (Exercise) ……
• Week 8 Review………………
• Week 8 Action Items ……………………………….

 
You Can Do It!

• What You Learned (Exercise) ……
• Class Certification……………
• Additional Resources……………
• Forever Parenting Partners……………
• You Can Do It! Action Items ……………………………….

          Available on Amazon: Collaborative CoParenting Book