Children First Family Law

One late-night post can follow a parent into court months later. In this episode, Krista explains how posts, stories, comments, photos, location data, and dating profiles may become evidence in Colorado custody disputes. She explains evidence rules and how posts can be used against their authors.  Nash explains that private accounts are not legally privileged and warns against deleting potential evidence or accessing an ex-partner’s accounts. Listeners will learn to pause before posting, preserve records, and keep adult conflict away from children. She leaves listeners with two questions: Would I want this read in court? Is it good for my child? In this episode, you will hear: Authentication, hearsay, and relevance rules Posts about co-parents, court proceedings, and parenting Privacy settings and preserving potential evidence Children’s online privacy and location tracking Dating profiles and introducing new partners Social media activity and protection orders Resources fr...

See It Through Your Child’s Eyes   For most parents, a new relationship feels hopeful. For children, it often feels like another change they didn’t choose. They may worry about losing your attention, feel pressured to “pick sides,” or fear that liking your new partner betrays the other parent. Starting from this perspective helps you slow down and protect their sense of security.   Timing Matters   There is no magic number of months, but two questions help guide timing:   Is this relationship stable and serious   Has my child found some footing after the separation   If your child is still asking if you and your ex will get back together, struggling at school, or having a hard time with exchanges, it is usually too soon. Children also do best when they are not introduced to a series of short-term partners.   Age-Specific Considerations   Young children (under 5) form attachments quickly. The risk is losing someone they bonded with if the relationship ends.   School-age...

In this episode, host Krista Nash sits down with parenting expert, author, and coach Christina McGhee to tackle one of the most difficult moments in divorce: telling your children. Christina, who has spent over two decades helping families navigate separation, shares compassionate, practical guidance for parents who want to put their children first during this life-altering conversation. Together, Krista and Christina explore the emotional weight parents carry and the common mistakes that can undermine a child’s sense of security. Christina emphasizes the importance of clarity, preparation, and unified messaging, reminding parents that while the marriage may be ending, parenting is not. She introduces strategies such as framing divorce as a change rather than an ending, using age-appropriate language, and avoiding over-sharing or placing emotional burdens on children. Listeners will also hear insights into how children of different ages process divorce, the dangers of using children...

When traditional co-parenting turns every interaction into an argument, many parents feel stuck between constant conflict and total cutoff. Parallel parenting offers a third option, one that protects children while lowering day-to-day tension between adults. What Parallel Parenting Really Means Parallel parenting is not blocking your ex, refusing to share information, or pretending the other parent does not exist. It is a structured way of parenting where communication is limited to what is necessary for the child. You still share medical updates, school information, activities, emergencies, and any changes that materially affect your child. The guiding idea is simple: less unnecessary contact, not less responsibility. The “Two Tracks, One Train” Picture Think of two train tracks. They never intersect, but they must stay aligned for the train to stay on the rails. The train represents your child. If one track veers away, the train derails. In the same way, parents can live separat...

New romantic partners after divorce can feel like hope for parents and yet another upheaval for kids. We explore how children actually experience a parent’s dating life, drawing on long-term research about stepfamilies, loyalty conflicts, and the impact of repeated relationship changes. Listeners learn why stable, slower-paced introductions matter, how age shapes a child’s reaction, and why one-on-one time with each parent remains essential.  Krista lays out a clear ladder-style framework for introducing a partner, from first conversations with your co-parent and kids, to brief neutral meetings, to carefully timed overnights and cohabitation. We also look at Colorado law on parenting plans, morality clauses, and what courts really require before limiting parenting time because of a new partner.  Throughout, Krista offers guidance for both the dating parent and the non-dating parent so families can reduce conflict, protect children, and build steadier blended family relati...

A ten year old does not need to sit in a courtroom to know something is wrong between her parents. She hears it in a voice at pickup, sees it in a look exchanged over a backpack, feels it in the silence after a text message goes unanswered. For years, the guidance given to separated and divorced parents boiled down to one rule: conflict is bad for kids, so get rid of it. Newer research tells a more useful story, and it starts with a distinction most families never hear. How Parents Handle Conflict Matters More Than Whether It Happens Divorce alone does not determine how a child turns out. Most kids whose parents separate do fine over the long run. The strongest predictor of poor outcomes is destructive conflict, not separation itself, meaning yelling, blaming, or pulling a child into the middle of a disagreement. Constructive conflict looks different. Parents disagree, work through it, and model repair in front of their kids, and that experience can teach a child a skill worth having...