Everyone has their own reason for wanting a divorce, but anyone who goes down this path does so with the idea of creating a better life in the future.
While you focus on the details of your divorce, you should come to grips with the reality that you’ll be co-parenting with your ex-spouse in the future.
Co-parenting is new to the both of you, so it’s likely that you’ll make some mistakes. However, when you follow these tips, it’s easier to get on the right track and stay there indefinitely.
- Always put your children first: If you and your ex both take this approach, you can be confident that you’re always doing what’s best for your children. You should also avoid a situation in which you talk poorly about your ex to your children, as it will cause additional tension between you.
- Communicate: It sounds simple enough, but it’s a major roadblock for many people who are co-parenting. It’s critical that you find a communication method that works for you, such as email, text messaging or even face-to-face meetings. Without an open line of communication, important details may go unspoken.
- Don’t get in the way: When your ex is spending time with your children, stay out of the way. Don’t get into the habit of calling every hour, showing up unnoticed or telling your children what they should and shouldn’t do when you’re not around.
- Don’t let problems fester: There will be times when you disagree with your ex in regard to how they’re dealing with your children. Don’t sweep it under the rug, but instead share your concerns and search for common ground. This will help you put the concern in the past, as opposed to giving it the opportunity to bog you down in the future.
When you follow these co-parenting tips, you’ll find it much easier to make decisions with the best interests of your children in mind.
If your ex doesn’t want to get along, it can lead to serious issues, such as a violation of the parenting agreement. Should this become a major concern, you may need to seek a modification of your custody agreement and visitation schedule.
