Co-Parentig is just like regular parenting, but we don't drive each other into resentment filled fits of rage every time the other person leaves their dirty socks in the middle of the living room floor or doesn't put a dish in the dishwasher. We have our kid for that.
Two Household Parenting: there's a good chance you'll need to buy duplicates of everything, or feel the wrath of a four year old who has left his favorite Tsum Tsum under his bed at his Dad's house.
My ex and I are very close and I can only explain it like this: if a person watches you give birth and still can look you in the eye, you're meant to be connected forever, 'cause trust me...that shit ain't pretty to look at.
If you can survive talking about your child's bodily functions on a daily basis with another person, you're co-parenting correctly.
I have to admit that every time my son's father comes in the door looking tired and defeated it makes me feel good. At least I'm not the only one getting their ass handed to them by a four-year-old.
Co-Parenting either makes other families super impressed or super uncomfortable. Admittedly both reactions are satisfying.
Fact: It doesn't matter how prepared or how awesome the other parent's house is...your child will still pack a bag to spend the night like they are packing for an Everest Expedition.
When someone refers to the other parent as your "husband/wife" and you instantly and loudly reply with pride "WE AREN'T MARRIED" like thats some accomplishment or something...and then high five each other and sit back and watch the reactions around you.
"Ask your Mom/Dad..." The thing every kids hears when they want to do a thing we don't want to do...eventually they will break one of you.
Thank goodness for step-moms. You can never have too many people loving and caring for your child. It's a really special relationship and bond they have. Also, it's really awesome to have another person to explain why women wear bras after I have explained it 4 million times already.
It truly is a sense of pride and joy for me to see my son with his Dad. Especially when he is patiently trying to keep said kid calm and entertained and allows the kiddo to climb him like a tree, inadvertently crushing his Dad's manhood on the way up.
When you look around your car and think "I really hope his Dad's car is just as fucked up and disgusting as this one..." and it is.
When our entire family goes to dinner it looks like some sort of polygamist outing and the waiter never knows who to hand the check to.
Each of us has different parenting experiences. Example: Kiddo flooded his Dad's office somehow, only to tell his Dad hours after the damage was done...a week later at my house, I found that the same kiddo had peed in a random trashcan for some odd reason and failed to mention it until days later when the odor offended him. Awesome, right? This is when swapping stories gets fun.
People often ask how its possible to co-parent with my ex. I think the answer is just that. We aren't together. I don't have to be responsible for a grown man's laundry or be obliged to watch hours of sports that I don't want to watch. He does what he wants, I do what I want and the goal is to keep the small human alive and happy. Now that I think about it, we are probably the only parents I know with this amount of free time and no drama. Probably because we both have full and balanced lives.

Real Talk: In the spirit of being 100, our family is not typical. We have been through a lot of ups and downs. It hasn't always been easy to co-parent. BUT I will say this, the place that we are in now is a "ride or die" feeling. I know this person has my back, and I have his. The goal is to stand up and advocate for your child, be open in your communication, and raise a happy and healthy child together. However that has to happen. Pride will be swallowed, humility will be found, and appreciation should be the center of your relationship with the other parent. Trust me when I say that if WE can do it, YOU can do it.