Life Matters - Full program podcast Co-parenting after separation and clearing an innocent cat's name
Mar 12, 2026
Danielle Lundberg, a mediator with a psychology and counselling background, explains navigating separation and rebuilding parenting after a split. She discusses the emotional shock of breakup, child-inclusive mediation and practical approaches to cooperation or parallel parenting. The conversation also dives into neighbour disputes about a blamed cat and how to handle proof, privacy and neighbourly diplomacy.
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Less Shame Around Splitting Up Today
- Shame around separation has declined as people expect more fulfilment and accept relationship change.
- Danielle links evolving expectations (citing Perel/Gottman) to greater willingness to separate without assigning blame.
Include Children Through A Child Informed Process
- Use child-inclusive processes to assess children's developmental needs rather than asking them to decide custody.
- Danielle describes involving another practitioner to relay children's lived experience back to parents for informed decisions.
Competition Became Cooperation Over Time
- Sam found that post-separation generosity replaced competitive parenting and improved teamwork five years later.
- After mediation the exes stopped competing over chores and became cooperative co-parents handling gigs, pickups and schedules amicably.