Disclosure: I read this book before publication and know the author.
Kristjanson writes with authority on the subject of raising children together with an ex-spouse or partner after divorce or separation. The book is filled with stories of parents who worked hard in the best interests of their kids during trying times. Kristjanson includes stories of high conflict and same-gender partnerships, as well as those with special needs children. The stories provide hope and the chance of personal growth for parents who find themselves in this situation and want the best for their kids..
It is a book filled with practical tips and advice that will help all who choose this method of parenting, that has become mainstream.
Highly recommended for parents, grandparents, lawyers, and social workers.

I really enjoyed this read. I appreciate the formatting of the book, using dozens of short stories of parents who have gone or are going through the process of co-parenting after divorce or separation. Every topic you can think of has been addressed - addiction, same-sex couples, mental disabilities, abuse of the court system, high-conflict, and more. Reading about what other parents have done polarizes the reader's own opinions on a variety of topics. Things we may never have even thought of before are presented and we can feel ourselves immediately forming a strong belief about it.

It could be argued that there is nothing in the world more precious to a parent than their children. People become the fiercest of warriors when it comes to their kids - and that is the pit that so many fall into. They fight without actually knowing what they're doing. They lash out without understanding the situation, and so can sometimes find themselves fighting against a friend, rather than an enemy. And the family law system itself promotes the adversarial approach by way of its very structure - one parent versus the other.

But with all of the problems, there are so many ways to make a situation work (providing there is not legitimate danger to either parent or children). This book offers so many ideas and systems that various parents have come up with through trial and error. There is much to be said for the sheer level of determination some of them have had to make sure they provide a positive environment for their children to thrive in - even at the expensive of their own preferences.

This has been a wonderful, highly edifying read. I strongly recommend it to every person going through family law court, working on establishing a working co-parenting system, and every parent (yes, including the ones still with their partners). I think there are so many good ideas and lessons in this book, that there is something for every parent to take away and apply in their own lives.