Co-parenting after divorce has now become a common practice. Every child deserves two cooperative parents. Getting along with a former spouse, though, can be challenging and unpleasant for many of us. This essay is a compilation of advice I’ve gathered over the years about co-parenting following divorce. To ease the transition from divorce and the process of family restructuring and rebuilding simpler for you and your children, follow these recommendations.
To be a good co-parent, you must first heal
Dr. Juliana Morris, a marital and family therapist states that you will carry the same hurt into the co-parenting relationship. One or both parents have not made the effort to move past the past and into the new chapter. As parents, you have to maintain a positive approach toward your kids.
Become business partners with your co-parent
Your children’s co-parenting is your business. Mutual benefit is the foundation of business ties. Expectations and emotional ties don’t function in business. Instead, in a successful firm, everyone is polite. You can observe formal courtesies at any meetings and professional gatherings. Professionals present an agenda and discussion focused on the subject at hand. All the agreements are explicit, clear, and written.
Be adaptable, even if it hurts
While consistency and stability are essential in fostering a sense of security in a child through uncertain times, flexibility should also be displayed. According to Ellsworth, if parents forgive one another and give one another the benefit of the doubt when it comes to scheduling. They will provide their kids with comforting, safe places to land in trying circumstances.
Take challenges
When it’s time to swap, make sure your kids are prepared with their belongings, clean, fed, and ready to go. Better yet, plan your time sharing such that weekends begin on Friday after school and end with school drop-off on Monday morning to avoid the dreaded transition.