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Tips for co-parents to communicate successfully

Parents who are trying to co-parent successfully need to ensure that they have effective communication about their children. It’s not always easy to handle these situations because of the emotional turmoil that comes with divorce, but finding ways to speak to each other is often what’s best for the children.

There are a few tips that you might consider if you’re in this position. The main factor to remember in these cases is that you have to put the children first. It often makes the situation a little easier when both stick to only speaking about what the kids need. 

The past should stay in the past

With very few exceptions, such as instances of abuse or neglect, it’s best for the parents to leave the past alone. The reasons for the divorce typically don’t play any role in the child custody decisions. Every decision that’s made should be considered based solely on how the options will impact the children.

Know when to take breaks

There will be times when conversations may become tense. Instead of continuing to push each other, those are the times when it’s best to take a step and gather your thoughts. Knowing when to take breaks to calm down and consider the options can help to avoid making the situation worse.

Many contentious decisions can be prevented by including applicable terms in the parenting plan. This should be set as quickly as possible after the split so everyone can adjust to the new way of life. Having someone familiar with these situations may be beneficial as you and your ex work together to set the terms.