How to stop the fight

Dear Dr. Blackstone: I have tried to talk to my children’s mother about some concerns I have, but she immediately gets defensive. It turns into a shouting match and nothing gets accomplished.How can we change this? What’s good ex-etiquette?

Dear Reader: I like that you are looking for solutions instead of blaming everything on your ex. Words like “reluctant” acknowledges her uncertainty without being accusatory, and that means there’s hope.

I find when couples disagree — and this includes ex-couples — it’s not what they say as much as how they say it. The words they use hit a nerve, and rather than listen to the message, they respond to the language used and that starts a vicious blame cycle of “No, I don’t!” “Yes, you do!” “No, I don’t!” You end up fighting about fighting rather than looking for a solution.

Try this simple four-step approach next time you attempt to problem solve with your ex.

1. State your feeling first 2. State the offending behavior

3. State with the effect it has on you

4. State the behavior you would like to see

This approach keeps the conversation focused and eliminates the “No, I don’t/ Yes, you do” Blame Cycle.

I feel (state the feeling) when you (state the behavior) because (state the effect it has on you). (State the behavior you would like to see.)

It looks like this in a sentence: “I feel angry when you are late because then it makes me late and people are waiting for me, too. Please be on time.”

I know this sounds simple, but it works. Stick to the formula, and you will BOTH see a positive turnaround. That’s good ex-etiquette.