Co-parenting is a term you often see in the media these days. It’s a term that refers to two parents, in separate households, raising a child together in harmony. It’s a far cry from the strictly separated divorced families of the past.
While co-parenting is the best thing for children whose parents are no longer together, it isn’t always easy. It takes a lot of effort from both parties and a significant amount of patience. There is no room for being childish in a co-parenting relationship.
While not easy, the following tips can help make your co-parenting relationship as free of stress and prosperous as possible.
- Communication is Key
Communication is vital, and the lines of such should be as free-flowing as possible. If there are problems or concerns, communicate them in an adult manner. Upcoming event for your child? Talk about it! Don’t usually have your child on a day where you’d like to take them somewhere? Just ask!
- Learn to Compromise
Compromising plays a huge role in co-parenting. With two separate households, not everything will go according to your plans, but that’s okay. If everyone is dedicated to making it work, remember that when you compromise this time, the other parent will compromise next time!
- Determine a Workable Custody Schedule
Have a set custody schedule but be willing to make changes as needed. A typical custody schedule is for one parent to have the children during the week, while the other has them on the weekend. During the summer, holidays, and school vacation periods, this may switch based on familial plans.
- Don’t Strive for Perfect
Know it will never be perfect. As much as we’d love for co-parenting to be a fairy tale, it is not. There will be disputes or schedule disagreements at some point. Ensuring these things don’t happen isn’t what makes a successful co-parenting relationship. It is how they are handled.
- Know When to Involve the Courts
You may or may not have gone to court to set up an initial custody schedule. Regardless, you should know when situations necessitate court involvement. If one parent is being abusive or demanding of the other, it’s essential to handle this in court. If you believe your child isn’t being properly cared for or the opposite parent refuses to compromise, these are also reasons to seek court involvement.
Effective Co-Parenting is Possible
If you utilize the above tips, you can have a successful co-parenting relationship with your child’s other parent. Above all else, remember that seeing their parents “playing nice” and working together is the best thing for a growing child’s well-being and emotional development. If a situation is truly not working, know when to get the courts involved for the safety and well-being of all parties.