This podcast provides guidance on what to do when there is high conflict between you and other important people in your child’s life. Conflict can happen within families, between spouses, and among siblings. Conflict can also occur with extended family and with other important people in your child’s life. Conflict is normal and expected. However, when conflict escalates, is persistent, and remains unresolved, it can be harmful. The stress you experience from conflict will be felt by your child as well.

Learning to navigate high conflict situations can help you model the behaviors you are teaching your children, grow your social and emotional skills, grow your child’s social and emotional skills, and ultimately do what is in your child’s best interest. The Montana Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University to bring you this podcast as part of ParentingMontana.org, their successful parenting website. Managing relationships is a large part of the social and emotional skills promoted on ParentingMontana.org and, of course, the focus of this podcast.

If conflict is a source of stress for you or your child, this podcast will help you sort through these situations and offer some ideas for actions you can take to either try and preserve the relationship or perhaps let it go. You will see that either of these choices is okay as long as your goal in high conflict situations is to ultimately do what is in your child’s best interest.