You would love it if you and your ex could just get divorced and never have to see each other again. A clean break would be simple and easy.
However, since you have kids together, you know that’s not going to happen. You are going to have to co-parent as your children grow up, and you need to know how to do it well. Below are some tips that can help in this situation.
- Do not fight over everything. When you and your ex disagree, pick which battles mean the most to you. You don’t have to parent in exactly the same way to be good parents.
- Don’t insist on a rigid schedule. It can be tough for either parent to always adhere to the schedule when kids are involved. Be flexible. Be open to change.
- Talk to your ex without involving the kids. You don’t need to send messages to him or her by passing them to the children. Keep them out of it and reduce the odds of a miscommunication by talking directly to one another.
- Stay calm when you drop the children off. They see your emotions and feed off of your energy. You may be sad to see them go to stay with your ex for a time, but don’t project it and create conflict.
- Be respectful of one another’s time. You both have a role to play. Do not infringe on your ex’s time, and make sure he or she respects your time in return.
Co-parenting may be hard, but keeping your children’s best interests in mind can help. Make sure you understand all of your rights and how to set up a successful parenting plan and custody schedule.
Source: Huffington Post, “10 Real Life Tips For Successful Co-Parenting,” Lorraine C. Ladish, accessed April 09, 2018