Sometimes it's unexpected when a celebrity couple breaks up, and other times, it makes sense because we knew that they were having trouble. When Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced that they were breaking up just a few months ago, it was definitely on the surprising side. I remember thinking that they were such a sweet couple and that they seemed so in love. Anytime they were photographed at a public event, they seemed like the perfect pair and like nothing could tear them apart.
Of course, life happens and couples break up, and that's what happened here. When any couple goes their separate ways, it's always going to be sad. When a couple has children, it becomes even sadder and even more heartbreaking. We know that the parents wish that they could stay together but that the old saying of "stay together for the kids" isn't always the best idea (actually, we could say that it's usually the worst idea).
Jenna and Channing are an amazing example of how to coparent. They have a five-year-old daughter, Everly, who is cuter than cute. It's interesting to hear what they're doing and how they're continuing on this journey. Here are 21 things that Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum are doing right when it comes to coparenting.
21 Staying Positive
One amazing thing that Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum are doing is staying positive. If any of us are currently coparenting with an ex, we know it's hard and that it could be all too easy to get down and wish that we could be one big happy family once again.
In an interview with Harpers Bazaar, Jenna talked about how they are parenting Everly and she had something really great to say. She said,
"We’re just getting used to it. We're in a very positive energy together, trying to be the best parents to Everly. We support each other."
20 Being Realistic
The fact that Jenna started her interview answer with the phrase "We're just getting used to it" proves that she and Channing are being realistic about coparenting.
It sounds like they know that it's hard and that they're at the beginning of this journey.
That's advice that we can all take, whether we're coparenting or not. When we start something new, whether a new routine or behavior with our children or a new job or anything at all, there is going to be an adjustment period. It's totally normal and it's good to be realistic when approaching it. It's really the only way.
19 The Big Picture
Coparenting means keeping the big picture in mind: knowing that it's hard right now but it's best for you and your kid. After all, your kid is the center of everything, right?
Jenna said in an interview with Vogue magazine,
“I think everyone wants to hold on to what’s in front of them, but when you open your mind, saying, ‘I want what’s best for myself and my daughter,’ you have to be okay with however that looks.”
This is honestly the best thing that anyone could say about coparenting and we think that it's something that anyone who is going through this should remember.
18 Dating Life
Jenna and Channing are both dating again. It doesn't sound like they have gotten super serious with anyone yet.
When coparenting, you have to think about when the right time is to introduce your new partner to your child or children. It might feel awkward and complicated, but it's not something that you can ignore.
You can't introduce them too early because if you end up splitting up, your kids are already attached and that's not good news for anyone. But eventually, this is something that you have to think about. We should all follow Channing and Jenna's lead and take this seriously and think about it carefully.
17 Happy Mother's Day
Mother's Day and Father's Day seem like tough holidays to celebrate when you and your ex are no longer together and are now on a coparenting journey.
It helps to know how other parents navigate this, and we can learn a lot from Jenna and Channing here. As Romper reported, Channing wished Jenna a Happy Mother's Day in a video, and he said, "Jenna, happy Mother’s Day, baby. Mama, happy Mother’s Day. I hope you’re enjoying this beautiful sunset. Love you guys.” Yup, that's definitely a really nice message. It's a good idea for ex-couples to still wish each other good things on these specific holidays since they are really meaningful for parents.
16 School Visit
If you break up with someone whom you have a child with, it's not like you can never see them again. You're going to have to attend some events with them (or at least be in the same room or environment) and that includes things that take place at your child's school.
For Channing and Jenna, they have already done that, and it seems like it has gone well. As E! reported back in June 2018,
"The newly split stars were spotted Thursday arriving separately for co-parenting duties for their 5-year-old daughter, Everly Tatum. According to one source, it appeared they were taking their little one to a class."
They were both at their daughter Everly's school and people say maybe their daughter was graduating from pre-K.
15 No Drama
This was a very positive visit it seems and there is no news of any drama or any harsh words exchanged between the two of them. They've kept things very calm, and that is a great message for any parents who are coparenting.
While a breakup is always going to be dramatic (and even more so when there are children involved), keeping things calm and peaceful is always going to be a better idea. After all, kids pick up on everything, and you want your kids to see that you're smiling and not mad at each other and keeping things polite and nice.
14 Remembering What's Important
Another tip that we can learn from the way that this former couple is coparenting is to remember what's important: your child or children.
A source who knows Jenna and Channing said, according to Best Divorce Lawyer.co, “They will continue to be the best parents to Everly. Like other couples, they have had arguments and disagreements, but they were always very conscious about giving their daughter lots of love and a great life… The fact that they get along is everything.”
It's so nice to see a former couple put their child first and make her the focus, and we love that they have kept things so calm.
13 The Right Attitude
When they decided to break up, Jenna and Channing had an Instagram post that they wrote together.
It's really nice and makes us think that they remember how they felt about each other and they always keep in mind that they're a family. That seems like the key to coparenting successfully.
Romper posted their message, which reads: "We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple. We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. We are still a family and will always be loving dedicated parents to Everly. We won’t be commenting beyond this, and we thank you all in advance for respecting our family’s privacy."
12 Kind Words Only
They haven't said anything to the press/media about each other that could sound mean or unsupportive. This is a really good lesson for anyone who is coparenting. While we're regular people and don't talk to the press or have paparazzi taking photos of us or strangers wanting to know how things are going, we can still relate to this.
When we're talking to other people about our ex, we should always keep things nice and polite, no matter how we're feeling.
This goes for when we're talking in front of our children and when we're not, too. It's important and it won't help matters if we're complaining or being negative.
11 It Feels The Same
Jenna and Channing have done another thing while coparenting that is truly awesome and inspiring: they have made sure that it feels the same for their daughter. That is really the best thing that you can hope for.
A source said, according to Cosmopolitan, “Nothing has really changed from when they were together,” they said. “It hasn’t been a big adjustment for their daughter either, because not much has changed. Channing is a great dad when he is around. They coparent and have the same goals for their daughter, which is they want her to know that she is very loved.”
10 So Mature
Another lesson that we can take from these former lovebirds: it's possible to be cool with your ex dating someone new. It really and truly is. This might not be something that we assume because we know that it's easy to be envious and have a lot of negative feelings when someone that we loved is with someone new. But it's a part of the coparenting journey.
According to Us Weekly, Channing is dating Jessie J and Jenna has been cool about it. It's great to hear and it doesn't surprise us at all after hearing so many of the ways that Channing and Jenna have been awesome about coparenting.
9 Still Friends
Some people like to stay friends with an ex, while others would never dream of it. It's a subjective, personal thing.
One thing is for sure, though: if you are coparenting with an ex, you definitely want to think of each other as friends.
It's cool to say that your ex is your friend and that's what Jenna says about Channing. The actress told Harpers Bazaar, "Ultimately, no matter what Chan and I are doing, we're really great friends. I think that will never change, no matter what." It's awesome to hear her speaking so kindly about him and we love it.
8 Better Now
It sounds like they are doing really well as coparents and friends rather than as a married couple. According to Hollywood Life, Jenna told Women's Health "It’s okay for a relationship to change into a new form that is actually better for both people involved, and I think that’s maybe what [surprised] everyone so much – that it can be a positive thing,"
This is such a smart and realistic way to look at the situation and one that we think that everyone who is coparenting could benefit from. While family and friends might say, "Oh no, it's so sad, you should stay together", the truth is that relationships do come and go and change.
7 Support System
According to Hello magazine, after they made their public statement that they were breaking up, people said that Channing was going to a lot of parties and drinking and that was why they were ending their marriage.
Jenna said about Channing, (according to her spokesperson),
"Happy to clarify that absolutely none of these rumours are true. The reason our statement was so positive is because that's the reality of our situation."
They are supportive of each other, and that is a really good way to be when you are coparenting. It's really the only way to make sure that you are successful.
6 A Good Dad
When it comes to coparenting, it's important that both parents are doing an equal amount of work and that seems like what is happening here. Channing is a good and devoted dad.
He posted this photo to his Instagram account of his daughter at school and how proud he was. As Entertainment Tonight reported, Everly was making this sign with her hands even though the other kids weren't. He wrote, "She cool [...]!!" He continued, "I’m proud and feeling some pangs of dad dork growing. Just look at this pic if you ever need help. It has done a lot for me."
5 This Is Sweet
We can tell that Channing really loves his daughter.
He says the sweetest things about her, and that proves that he and Jenna are coparenting really well.
Entertainment Tonight quoted this statement about how Channing feels about Everly: "She kinda came out that way. I wish I could take credit for that, but I can't really. That's really all her. I think kids sorta do come out a little bit of what they're going to be, and then you foster that to be whatever you hope her to be in the world. She always just like, does her own thing."
She sounds like an amazing kid, and Jenna and Channing sound like amazing parents.
4 There For Each Other
We don't often hear of formerly married couples being there for each other and a support system when things are tough or one of them is going through something. It would be awesome, of course, but it's not really the norm.
Channing and Jenna do that, though, and it's beautiful. As Marie Claire reported, Channing lost a friend recently (it was his best friend from when they were kids) and Jenna was there for him. She wrote on his Instagram, "RIP Corey. All the love in the world to his family right now." We can see that these two are an example of how to best coparent even from this alone.
3 Private Family
As Yahoo pointed out, Jenna and Channing don't have many public photos of their daughter. They are private and that is really good to see since we understand the need for privacy.
It seems like they keep their family life private and close to their chests, and that's another great example of how to coparent.
While it's cool for others to see that you're doing an amazing job raising your kid (or kids) together, you also don't need to shine a spotlight on absolutely everything that you're doing or post tons of photos. You need your privacy and your kids do, too.
2 Happy Girl
Channing and Jenna want their daughter to be happy, and they have a sweet approach to parenting. As Jenna told Elle magazine, "We're still figuring it out, to be honest. Our main thing is keeping Everly as our top priority, so she is happy, she's taken care of, she's loved—we love her more than anything. I don't think much has shifted in that sense."
So sweet, right?! A statement like this is exactly what you want to hear when you're seeing how a couple is coparenting. We can only hope that every former couple who is now raising their children while living apart can see it this way.