“Phase 1: Colliding and Campaigning,” each partner explains his or her own perspective about the child to persuade the other. This is solo dancing rather than a dance of partnership. At each phase, each partner must practice these steps: stop, look, listen, share, and take care to understand the other’s goals and perspectives in order to move toward a collaborative partnership. In “Phase 2: Cooperating and Compromising,” partners listen, developing trust and open cooperation, and there is “less stepping on toes” (p. 20). Many relationships may remain at this phase with commitment, problem
...more
