National Parents Organization of South Dakota

10/20/2026

You can be direct without making it personal. Instead of “You never tell me anything,” try “Please send me the appointment details so I can stay informed.” The concern is still there, but the request is clear. This isn’t about ignoring problems or pretending everything is fine. It’s about choosing words that keep the conversation focused on your child and what needs to happen next.

10/10/2026

10/06/2026

National Parents Organization knows that there are many harmful myths about shared parenting. Opponents of shared parenting raise a myriad of objections to a presumption that children will continue to have a full parent-child relationship with both parents even when the parents are living apart. The

10/04/2026

Healthy co-parenting does not require parents to agree on everything.

It requires parents to keep communication focused on the child: school, health, schedules, activities, emotions, and needs. A simple pause before responding can help shift the conversation from “my ex” to “our child.”

Before sending that message, ask: Does this help our child, solve a real problem, or lower conflict?

If the answer is no, it may not need to be sent.

10/04/2026

Healthy parenting after separation does not always look the same.

For some families, cooperative co-parenting works well. For others, less direct contact is the healthiest option. Parallel parenting allows each parent to stay fully involved in the child’s life while communication remains brief, structured, and focused only on essential child-related issues.

The goal is not to force a perfect relationship between adults. The goal is to reduce conflict and give children stability, consistency, and the love of both fit parents.

10/04/2026

A child should never be separated from a loving, capable parent without a real, evidence-based reason.

As Dr. Kelley Baker puts it: “If you want to see a sane person act insane, take their children away from them for no reason at all.”

Family-court decisions carry lifelong consequences—not only for parents, but for children who deserve safety, stability, and meaningful relationships with both fit parents. Removing a parent from a child’s life should never be treated as routine, strategic, or consequence-free.

09/27/2026

This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But those who are interested in the evolutionary bases for human behavior might find this of interest. Sarah Blaffer Hrdy is a world renowned anthropologist and pri mato logist who has made important contributions to evolutionary psychology and sociobiology. ...

09/27/2026

Several states, including Louisiana and Mississippi, have adopted laws making 50-50 shared custody the default in divorce cases to promote fairness and encourage active parenting by both mothers and fathers. These laws aim to reduce conflict, but critics raise concerns about safety and children's ne...

09/24/2026

Shared parenting is not about avoiding responsibility. It is about recognizing that when children spend meaningful time in both homes, both parents have real, direct costs of caring for them.

Food. Clothing. School supplies. Transportation. Bedrooms. Sports gear. Everyday expenses do not disappear simply because a child is moving between homes.

NPO has emphasized that well-designed child-support guidelines can reflect parenting time fairly, helping support children’s relationships with both parents without creating unnecessary financial hardship for mothers.