Pandemic Co-Parenting & Single Parenting
Every family is unique in its own ways, and parents are navigating the pandemic the best way they know how. We want to shine a light on our co-parenting parents and single parents who are experiencing their own set of distinctive challenges during the pandemic and provide resources to ease the burdens they may be experiencing.
Dr. Christina M. Grange and Dr. John A. Moran joined us for this conversation moderated by Dr. Sara Appleby. Re-watch some of the key moments of the webinar and explore additional resources for co-parents and single parents.
Table of Contents
Key Moments
(1:00) Why did we want to have this conversation?
(2:00) Introduction to our moderator Dr. Sara Appleby and expert panelists Dr. Christina M. Grange and Dr. John A. Moran
(5:30) Panelist backgrounds and general observations about parents during COVID-19
(10:00) How has the pandemic unfolded differently for single parents that do not have co-parents?
(12:00) How can I create a “virtual village” to help support me right now?
(16:30) How can single parents avoid burnout and find time for self-care?
(24:05) How can co-parents navigate pandemic risk management when they are not on the same page?
(32:20) What advice do you have regarding the children in the midst of these conflicts?
(37:50) What advice do you have for parents considering divorce or separation during the pandemic?
(45:20) What do you recommend for co-parenting across state lines with different COVID-19 travel restrictions?
(48:00) How can single parents talk with their worried children about what will happen to them if the parent becomes sick?
(52:00) What is one piece of advice you’d give to single parents or those navigating co-parenting right now?
Reflection Questions
What has been the most challenging aspect of being a single parent/co-parent during the COVID-19 pandemic? What have you learned about yourself and your child(ren) during this time?
In your own life, what are some ways that you have created a "virtual village" already, and do you have any new ideas for building on this "virtual village" after watching this webinar?
How can you best support your child(ren) in the event of parenting conflict?
What are some creative ways that you can take care of yourself during this time?
As a single parent/co-parent, what are some things that you wish your family, friends, and colleagues knew or understood right now?
Additional Related Resources
From Our Panelists:
Books by Dr. John A. Moran Overcoming the Alienation Crisis: 33 Coparenting Solutions and Overcoming the Co-Parenting Trap: Essential Parenting Skills When a Child Resists a Parent
Evolving the Single Black Mother Narrative by Dr. Christina Grange (National Institute for Diversity)
Dr. Grange’s Psychology Today blog - For the Souls of Black Folks
Free Family Co-Parenting Resources and Guides (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; mentioned by Dr. Moran during the webinar
Pandemic Co-Parenting:
When Co-Parents Clash in a Pandemic by Jill Waldbieser (The New York Times)
Family Conflict is Normal: It’s the Repair that Matters by Diana Divecha (Greater Good Magazine)
Toolkit for Emotional Care During Social Distancing: Practical Strategies for Separated Parents and their Children by Lyn R. Greenberg, PhD, ABPP; Resources compiled by Madeline Miller, MA student and Sarah Wilkins, PsyD student (Manitoba Psychological Society)
For Divorced Parents, Coronavirus Means Extra Complication by Andrea Petersen (The Wall Street Journal)
Pandemic Single Parenting:
Self-Care for Single Moms & Dads by Jennifer Wolf (Very Well Family)
Single Parenting During the Coronavirus Crisis by Juliann Garey (Child Mind Institute)
Young Children at Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Importance of Self-Care (Zero to Three)
Where Can I Find Child Care Assistance as a Single Parent? (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
Child Care Assistance for Single Mothers (Single Mother Guide - U.S. Resources)
Key Moments From This Webinar
How have things looked different for co-parents during the pandemic?
How can I support my child in the midst of my parenting conflicts?
How can I create a virtual village as a single parent?
How can single parents find time for self-care?
What do I do when my co-parent and I are not on the same page about pandemic-related risks?
Meet Our Guests & Moderator
Christina M. Grange, Ph.D.
Dr. Christina M. Grange is a clinical psychologist and owner of The Fern Center for Life (Atlanta, Georgia). She is also an associate professor of Psychology at Clayton State University. Her clinical training focused on the well-being and optimal development of young people in the context of their families. Recent research and clinical work have evolved to focus on how to best support African American unmarried parents working to successfully co-parent their child or children. A recent writing related to that work is featured by the National Institute for Diversity.
Dr. Grange received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), prior to receiving her Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed pre-doctoral training at the University of Illinois – Chicago and post-doctoral training at the University of Georgia’s Center for Family Research. These experiences combine to provide a unique perspective for how to use research and adapt related resources to better serve diverse family structures and promote the psychological wellness of communities.
John A. Moran, Ph.D.
John A. Moran, Ph.D. (Jack) is a licensed forensic/clinical psychologist with 35 years of experience serving as a court-appointed expert. He is on the Board of Directors of Overcoming Barriers, Inc., (OCB) and served as clinical director of three OCB residential family camps. He organizes multi-day intensive interventions for families responding to parent-child contact problems. He is the author of two books - Overcoming the Coparenting Trap: Essential Skills When a Child Resists a Parent and Overcoming the Alienation Crisis: 33 Coparenting Solutions, an Amazon #1 Best Seller. He has authored articles and chapters for professional publications and provides training to behavioral health professionals, attorneys, and judges at local, regional, and national conferences. He is past president of the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
Sara Appleby, Ph.D.
Our moderator, Dr. Sara Appleby, is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Mercer University in Macon, GA. Her research focuses primarily on legal decision-making. She is a single mother of a 13-month-old son and two high-energy rescue dogs.
Pandemic Parenting is a collaboration between two psychologists, scholars, and moms committed to sharing their expertise and research in ways that are immediately accessible and useful to families. Learn more about Dr. Amanda Zelechoski and Dr. Lindsay Malloy.