Co-parenting after divorce will challenge you in many ways. In addition to always doing what’s best for your children, you must keep in mind that your ex-spouse plays a big role in the parenting process.
These five co-parenting tips can put you on the right path:
1. Follow your parenting agreement: You create a parenting agreement and visitation schedule during divorce for a reason. It’s designed to provide you and your ex with a clear understanding of what you are and are not allowed to do. In uncertain times, it may be difficult to always follow it down to every last detail, but you should definitely try.
2. Keep some flexibility in your schedule: There will be times when your ex asks you to be flexible. Conversely, there may also be times when you need to ask for a favor. Yes, you want to follow your parenting agreement, but there are circumstances when it’s okay to go outside the box.
3. Don’t argue about everything: If you’re still at odds with your ex, it’s easy to fall into the trap of arguing about every last disagreement. Avoid this at all costs, as one argument after the next will place unnecessary stress on an already damaged relationship.
4. Communicate: You may find it difficult to effectively communicate, but you need to try. Ignoring each other will only cause additional issues if you’re not on the same page about how you’re raising your children. Thanks to technology, there are more ways than ever to communicate with your ex.
5. Respect your ex’s time with your children: If you want to get in the way, it’s not difficult to do so. You can text or call your children while they’re with your ex. You can show up early to pick up your children. You can drop them off late. All of these things are disrespectful and are likely to cause bad blood and put stress on your kids.
When you follow these co-parenting tips, it’s easier to ease some of the stress associated with your post-divorce life.
If your ex doesn’t feel the same way, you may find it challenging to maintain stability on behalf of your children. This could lead you to request a parenting agreement modification from the court.
