Going through a divorce is hard on everyone involved, but life afterward can be peaceful for parents and children if successful co-parenting is the ultimate goal.
It is not always easy to set hard feelings aside, but it is possible to focus on the wellbeing of children when both parents have joint custody. Here are some tips for co-parenting as a newly divorced family.
1. Keep your kids out of it
Many divorced parents find it difficult to separate themselves from the hard emotions connected to an ex-spouse, but it is essential to avoid speaking negatively about the parent of your children. Do not ask your kids to be a go-between, and make all decisions together as a co-parenting team.
2. Focus on communication
In many divorces, poor communication likely caused the end of the marriage. That makes communicating well during co-parenting even more important. Both parents need to remember that listening carefully and making requests clearly and professionally is the ideal way to make each side’s wants and needs known.
3. Simplify transitions between homes
Depending on your custody agreement, your children may spend a few days at each parents’ home before swapping. Making the transition between each home simple and as seamless as possible can ensure that your children feel safe and secure. A good way to avoid uncomfortable feelings is to drop off your children rather than picking them up. This gives each parent the chance to say goodbye on their own terms.
Working through child custody agreements and visitation schedules can be challenging, but successful co-parenting is possible with a little extra effort.