Happily Even After Betrayal with Life Coach Jen
227: Co-Parenting with a Disneyland Parent Vs Convenience Store Parent
Sep 7, 2026 · 22 min · 9 segments
Send us Fan Mail The hardest part of co-parenting after betrayal isn’t always the logistics. It’s the story you keep telling yourself about what…
Send us Fan Mail The hardest part of co-parenting after betrayal isn’t always the logistics. It’s the story you keep telling yourself about what your ex “should” be doing and the emotional whiplash that hits when they don’t follow through. Today we get brutally honest, in a way that’s meant to bring relief, about why chasing the fantasy of a suddenly reliable co-parent keeps you stuck and dysregulated. I break down a distinction that changes everything: the difference between a “Disneyland parent” and a “convenience store parent.” One may be fun-focused but still consistent and involved. The other shows up only when it works for them, cancels when something better comes along, and leaves you holding the emotional and logistical load. We also play with other truth-telling labels (holiday parent, highlight reel parent, revolving door parent and more) not to shame anyone, but to help you see patterns clearly so you can plan your life without constant resentment. From there, we shift the spotlight back where your power actually is: who you’re becoming. I share how I think about being the anchor parent, why “believe the patterns, not the promises” matters, and what real boundaries look like when pickups run late or parenting time is inconsistent. We talk about stopping the habit of parenting your former spouse, protecting kids from becoming messengers, and letting disappointment be a normal human emotion instead of an emergency you have to fix. If this lands in your chest, you’re not alone. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s co-parenting through divorce, and leave a review so more people can find support when they need it most. Please follow me on instagram and facebook @happilyevenaftercoach and if you want to see what coaching is all about I offer a free 30 min. clarity call via zoom. Email me: [hello@lifecoachjen.com](mailto:hello@lifecoachjen.com) for any comments or questions. Thanks for listening, please like and review as well as share with your family and friends. My website is www.lifecoachjen.com take the Free Quiz to find out how- How healed you are?
Send us Fan Mail The hardest part of co-parenting after betrayal isn’t always the logistics. It’s the story you keep telling yourself about what…
- Speakers
Jennifer TownsendHost
- Show signals
- SuitabilityBrand safe
