Would you allow your ex and their new partner to move into your home? Probably not but that is exactly what one woman did for a television program, The New Wife, shown on Channel 5 last night.

Ashleigh and her ex-partner Matt have a four-year-old daughter, Isabella. Sadly, Isabella had not been able to see Matt for six months as Ashleigh did not trust Matt and his new partner, Donna to care for her.

This situation is all too common when a relationship ends, communication between parents becomes difficult, trust breaks down and this can result in children being separated from one of their parents.

In Isabella’s case the slightly bizarre experiment worked and the relationship between her parents improved. This enabled them, with the assistance of a mediator, to put in place a plan for her to spend time with them both going forward.

Fortunately, most couples do not have to go to the extreme of sharing a house with their ex and his partner for a week. Mediation can help to rebuild the communication and trust which is often lost when a relationship ends. It helps parents make the shift from being a couple to being co-parents which creates a functional relationship for the sake of the children. There is no suggestion that you need to be best friends with your ex (or that you should live with them!) but having a civil and working relationship with your child’s mother or father is hugely beneficial to your child and makes your life easier as conflict is reduced.

Our trained mediator Rachel Baker works with families to help them put in place long term solutions to the issues that arise when a relationship ends. For further information, contact Rachel on 01384 340 580 or by email to rbaker@georgegreen.co.uk.