70 Co-Parenting Quotes to Help Separated Parents

By Stephanie Kirby

Writer, Entrepreneur and Inspirational quote curator

Published August 30, 2022

The following co-parenting quotes show why it is the right style of parenting for separated parents.

Parenting is never easy.

When you become a parent for the first time there’s no guidebook that comes with your child.

It’s a hard road to navigate at times.

However, that road can become even harder when you and your partner decide to go in separate directions.

You become two separate parents trying to raise the same child.

This situation can make it not only harder on you but also much harder on your children.

Learning how to co-parent with your ex can be the best option available for your child if the two of you are unable to work things out together.

Below is our collection of inspirational, wise, and helpful co-parenting quotes and sayings, collected from a variety of sources over the years.

Also check out these children quotes that will fill your heart with love and laughter.

If you like this article, we suggest you explore our most popular quotes article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily encouragement.

Look through our complete collection of inspirational quotes here.

Co-parenting quotes from celebrities

1. “We do bedtime every day. We felt like as much togetherness as possible would be ideal, and fortunately, we really love each other and are best friends, and so that works.” – Sienna Miller

2. “If Matt and I had a great relationship, we would still be together, but we chose to move on because we had different visions of how we wanted to live our lives. That doesn’t mean, though, that we can’t rebuild something that would be the best thing for the kids.” – Kate Hudson

3. “You have to get to that point as a divorced parent, as any parent, where you’re not putting yourself first. You want the kids’ experience to be its own and not like, ‘Well, I need to have my time!’ We have been very good about that.” – Ryan Phillippe

4. “We decided as a family it was the right decision for Flynn, so Orlando and I both relocated and we live five minutes from each other … Everything revolves around my son and his welfare.” – Miranda Kerr

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5. “[Our son] comes first and you have to get past your own egos and you never talk bad about each other.” – Idina Menzel

You will also enjoy our article on separation quotes.

6. “We both realize that we’re parents and we’re in it for our kid, and that’s made it really easy.” – Pete Wentz

7. “I have pictures up of me and Wiz in [our son’s] room so he can always come in and see us being happy together. We try to have family days with him, even though we’re not together. Kids want to see their parents together and if you can’t be together in a relationship, you’ve got to come together as friends for your baby.” – Amber Rose

8. “I’m very fortunate because we’re committed to co-parenting our children together.” – Elle Macpherson

9. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got a great kid who’s got two parents who love him very much. And we’re finding a way to navigate this while still remaining friends and still being kind to one another.” – Chris Pratt

10. “I’m really fortunate because my ex and I are very good friends and I talk to him every day. Our daughter is growing up seeing two people who care about each other. We may not be a traditional family on paper but we are a family and I tell her that families come in all shapes and sizes, but [a family is] love and I see her really flourishing because she sees two people treating each other with respect.” – Angela Kinsey

11. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to be a little selfless. You have to say ‘It’s not about us. This didn’t work out quite how we wanted it to but look at the amazing blessing that we have in these wonderful children.’ So you kinda put everything else to the side and really focus.” – Nick Cannon

12. “We are both totally committed to raising our son and being in love with our son… It’s a concept that’s fairly new, particularly in the psychology of raising a child in divorce. And the idea is, it’s really not the child’s fault that you got divorced. It’s your fault and therefore it should not be the child’s problem to go back and forth between two different homes.” – Josh Lucas on the “bird nesting” co-parenting arrangement
If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of divorce quotes that will help you get through the pain of separation.

13. “I find co-parenting really easy. Scott and I communicate all the time. You have to keep discussing what’s going on because as the children grow older, the rules need to be renegotiated.” – Kourtney Kardashian

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Insightful co-parenting quotes

14. “This is probably one of the most difficult challenges any parent could face, learning to love the other parent enough to make the children first.” – Lyanila Vanzant

15. “Co-parenting is not asking permission. It’s about discussing your child’s needs and wants and deciding what’s best.” – Unknown

16. “It’s a collaboration of parents doing what is best for the child regardless of their situation or feelings for one another.” – Unknown

17. “Co-parenting. It’s not a competition between two homes. It’s a collaboration of parents doing what is best for the kids.” – Heather Hetchler

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Co-parenting quotes on why it’s best for the child

18. “The best security blanket a child can have is parents who respect each other.” – Jane Blaustone

19. “I don’t think children’s inner feelings have changed. They still want a mother and father in the very same house; they want places to play.” – Beverly Cleary
If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of Father-Son quotes about the power of their bond.

20. “It is critical to maintain boundaries between adult problems and children. Please protect your children’s innocence and allow them to remain children. They must not be burdened by adult problems. Kids don’t have the coping skills or the intellectual ability to understand money worries, adult relationship issues or their parents’ unhappiness.” – Unknown

21. “As kids do, they’re smart, and even if parents try to keep things away from them, conflict and issues and whatnot, kids pick up on what’s happening.” – Anna Gunn

22. “At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of the parents.” –Jane D. Hull

23. “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” –Robert Fulghum

24. “Children shouldn’t have to sacrifice so that you can have the life you want. You make sacrifices so your children can have the life they deserve.” – Unknown

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Co-parenting quotes about children

25. “Instead of raising children who turn out okay despite their childhood, let’s raise children who turn out extraordinary because of their childhood.” –L.R. Knost

26. “Make a positive difference in your children’s lives. Act and speak about your co-parent with respect and integrity.” – Allison Pescosolido

27. “If you love your child more than you hate your ex, you can solve most co-parenting problems.” – Helen Fried

28. “Don’t ever talk trash to a child about their other parent. After all, you found some good in them long enough to reproduce.” – Unknown

29. “The greatest thing a father can do for his children is to respect the woman that gave birth to his children. It is because of her that you have the greatest treasures in your life. You may have moved on, but your children have not. If you can’t be her soulmate, then at least be thoughtful. Whom your children love should always be someone that you acknowledge with kindness. Your children notice everything and will follow your example.” – Shannon Alder
If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of father daughter quotes about their unbreakable bond.

30. “When you tell a child you hate their other parent, you are telling them you hate half of who they are.” –unknown

You will also enjoy our articles on grandpa quotes and granddaughter quotes.

Co-parenting quotes to enlighten you

31. “To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” – Barbara Johnson

32. “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” – Robert Fulghum

33. “Why are you measuring? This is how you block, delay, hinder, obstruct and deny his place in the life as a father.” – Iyanla Vanzant

34. “Your ex is not your child’s ex… remember that.” – Unknown
If you’re enjoying these quotes, you’ll love our collection of ex quotes to help you make the most out of your break-up.

35. “Think of it as an important business project; you don’t always love the person that you’re working with, but you work together to get the project done. Co-parents need to adopt this same business model when co-parenting their children.” –Kela Price

36. “Thumbs up for parents and step-parents who co-parent! Children need to feel safe and loved in both homes.” – Unknown

37. “You are demonstrating to men that they can come back and get their kids. All of those fatherless sons and daddy-less daughters and the men who didn’t know how to go back, you are demonstrating to the world that they can.” – Iyanla Vanzant

If you’re enjoying these quotes, read our collection of Father’s Day quotes, celebrating dads all around the world.

More co-parenting quotes

38. “A narcissist will never co-parent with you. They will counter parent. They don’t care about the emotional damage that the constant drama inflicts upon the children as long as it causes emotional drama to you.” – A. Price

39. “Effective parenting has nothing to do with pointing out our faults and everything to do with working out solutions.” – L.R. Knost

40. “Co-parents need to suck it up and become a collaborative team for the sake of the child.” – Sherrill Ellsworth

Co-Parenting Quotes To Help You Raise Children Uprightly

41. “The best, most mature co-parents will tell their therapist– and not their child – how much the other parent sucks.” – Hayley Gallagher

42. It’s a blended family and it’s very hard to keep things together, but we’re happy and we live in love.” – Kimora Lee Simmons

43. “There is no such thing as the perfect parent so just be the real one.” – Sue Atkins

44. “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” – Frederick Douglass

45. “There will always be steps you can take toward unity in your blended family. You will make—one step at a time!” – Donna Houpe

46. “Any man can help make a child, but it takes a special man to help raise a child.” – Tony Gaskins

47. “No one is ever quite ready. Everyone is always caught off guard. Parenthood chooses you.” – Marisa de Los Santos

48. “We divided and conquered together with lots of calendar coordination along the way. If one of us had to travel for work, we made sure the other was home. Our kids didn’t care who was home as long as one of us was there, and we never missed important moments.” – Shelley Zalis

49. “Your first obligation as a parent is not to bring chaos into the lives of your children.” – Jenny Setzer

50. “As a parent, you can’t completely avoid making mistakes. Accept it. The best you can do is to study your children, learn from your mistakes, and focus wisely on their upbringing.” – Gary Ezzo

Co-Parenting Quotes To Inspire and Give Hope To Those in Single Parenthood

51. “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.” — Brad Pitt

52. “Brad is such a great dad. When I’m working, he’s putting in the extra dad time.” — Angelina Jolie

53. “Being a father has changed me on so many levels and made me more generous and alive. I see my children as an essential part of my life, and it means so much to be able to educate them and help them make their way in the world as they grow up. I love being a father and all the responsibilities that it entails.” — Brad Pitt

54 “They’re six very strong-minded, thoughtful, worldly individuals. I’m very proud of them.” — Angelina Jolie

55. “Divorce isn’t such a tragedy. A tragedy’s staying in an unhappy marriage, teaching your children the wrong things about love. Nobody ever died of divorce.” — Jennifer Weiner

56. “If you’re struggling with your role, be kind to yourself and remember that step-parenting is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. Not because of any flaw of yours, but because that’s the nature of the role.” — Jenna Kori

57. “I mean, I’m single, I’m co-parenting. I’m doing okay.” — Naomi Watts

58. “I don’t think it matters how many parents you’ve got, as long as those who are around making their presence a good one.” — Elizabeth Wurtzel

59. “Your partner’s children are an extension of them and this makes them just as important to your happiness.” — Beth Happiness

60. “Derive solace in the fact that your interactions with your former spouse have their limits – you no longer have to share a bedroom, only your children.” — Lisa Helfend Meyer

Co-Parenting Quotes For Best Interest of Children

61. “Children deserve both parents. They deserve to know that their parents respect each other, if nothing else. So that really helps me set the standard of how I try and behave.” ― Jewel Kilcher

62. “Don’t ask them to carry messages to the other parent. Don’t ask kids to be responsible for setting up arrangements, changing schedules, or arranging rides. These are adult matters that need to be taken care of by the adults.” ― Marie Hartwell-Walker

63. “The sign of a great parent is not the behavior of the children, the sign of a truly great parent is the behavior of the parent.” ― Andy Smithson

64. “We’re just getting used to it. We’re in a very positive energy together, trying to be the best parents to Everly. We support each other.” ― Jenna Dewan

65. “Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every word, every movement, and action affects. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than a parent.” ― Bob Keeshan

66. “Start parallel parenting: Keep strict boundaries, communicate only over big-ticket items such as medical care and education, and interact minimally, even if that means having separate birthday parties.” ― Virginia Gilbert

67. “Remember you are not managing an inconvenience. You are raising a human being.” ― Kittie Frantz

68. “And it’s been hard, and you know, like, we’ve gone through really difficult times with it but we’ve always said these children are our priority.” ― Gwyneth Paltrow

69. “Your children need your presence more than your presents.” ― Jesse Jackson

70. “We’re doing our very best and we’re putting our kids first and that’s how we’re focusing on our day-to-day lives and we don’t know what the future’s going to hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes second.” ― Ben Affleck