Local divorced couple wins ‘Partners in Parenting’ award

WARREN, R.I. (WPRI) — Co-parenting after a divorce can be challenging, and too often we hear stories about the bad and not enough about stories of success.

The National Parents Organization is trying to change that. The local chapter just presented its first “Partners in Parenting Award,” recognizing excellence in parenting during and after divorce.

“We make good decisions together, even in a divorce,” Eli Dunn said.

If anyone were to spend just a short time with Eli and his wife Pam, it would seem like they were a happy couple. Even though they are happy, they are no longer together after seven years of marriage.

“We are telling friends and family and clients about us and we end up consoling them because they can’t believe it, and what I say is, ‘who you see and what you see is what we are, and parenting is what we have always done best,'” Pam said.

Lori Grover, who’s been a divorce mediator in Rhode Island for 15 years, started the local chapter of the National Parents Organization last year.