‘My little ones have some incredible women to look up to’: Joe Jonas on putting kids first after a legal battle with Sophie Turner; expert tips on long-distance co-parenting

Despite early legal disputes, the pair has since prioritised their daughters. In an earlier interview with Jay Shetty, Jonas shared, “Having an incredible mom, Sophie, for those girls is like a dream come true.”

How can separated or divorced parents work toward establishing a healthy co-parenting dynamic after a period of legal tension or emotional conflict?

Sonal Khangarot, a licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, tells indianexpress.com, “In my work, I’ve seen that co-parenting after separation isn’t about fixing the past. It’s about consciously choosing a future where your child feels emotionally safe. Legal or emotional tensions often leave behind unprocessed hurt, which shows up in day-to-day interactions. Therapy, individual or joint, can help separate personal grief from parenting responsibilities. I always ask parents to see each other not as exes, but as partners in raising a child.” 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by S O P H I E T U R N E R (@sophiet) 

She notes that tools such as parallel parenting, scheduled communication, and neutral third-party mediators can help mitigate friction. But above all, Khangarot asserts, co-parenting requires emotional maturity. Children don’t need a perfect family. They need consistency, calm, and connection. When parents commit to showing up for their child, despite their discomfort, healing begins for everyone.

When both parents live in different countries, what factors should be considered to ensure children grow up feeling secure?

When parents live in different countries, Khangarot says, consistency and emotional presence become even more important than physical proximity. Children need to feel that they haven’t “lost” a parent to distance. Scheduled calls, video messages, shared rituals like bedtime stories over video, or virtual Sunday breakfasts can offer emotional continuity. “Logistically, both parents must agree on routines, schooling, holidays, and even how conflicts will be managed—because children thrive on predictability. Psychologically, the child must not feel like a courier of emotions or information between parents,” notes the expert. 

How important is it for children to see both parents acknowledging each other positively?

“It’s deeply important,” says Khangarot, adding that when children see their parents acknowledge each other with respect, it gives them emotional permission to love both without guilt or confusion. Psychologically, it nurtures a secure internal world where relationships don’t have to be all-or-nothing. It models emotional maturity, conflict resolution, and mutual regard, which form the blueprint for their future relationships.