Attending Events with Your Co-Parent After Divorce

 Posted on November 01, 2017 in Children and Divorce

Divorced parents often cannot avoid each other due to their shared responsibilities to their children. Many encounters can be brief, avoiding uncomfortable tensions and possible conflicts. However, there are child-related events that the parents are expected to both attend and remain in close proximity to each other for extended periods. These events may include:

• Sports competitions;
• School concerts;
• Parent-teacher conferences; and
• Awards ceremonies.

Both parents likely want to attend these events because they are important moments in their children’s lives. The children are also hoping to see both parents at the event. Divorced parents should try to peacefully interact with each other when attending their children’s events.

Being Together

As awkward as it may feel, divorced parents can best show their support for their children by sitting next to each other at events. The action tells a child that his or her parents can agree on their love for the child, even if they disagree on other important matters. When not around the children, the parents can limit their interaction to a level that will not escalate into conflict. Though it may be tempting, they should refrain from discussing topics relating to their personal lives. Such conversations can easily devolve into the arguments that were at the heart of the divorce. Instead, the parents should focus on the children and what is happening at the event. Even sitting next to each other in awkward silence is preferable to a conversation that may become an argument.

Staying Apart

In some cases, the risk of conflict between parents is too great for them to sit together. Getting into an argument at a children’s event is embarrassing for the parents and their children. Tensions between parents can be high because of:

• An ongoing dispute over part of the divorce agreement;
• A history of abusive behavior between the parents;
• A contentious divorce process that included hurtful accusations; or
• One of the parents starting a new romantic relationship.

In such cases, sitting apart is the best decision because the parents may feel tempted to bring up the conflicts when they are together. It is best for the parents to ignore each other’s presence by talking to other friends in attendance and focusing their attention on their children.

Parenting Plans

During a divorce, parents are assumed to have an equal right to remain part of their children’s lives. A Kane County divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group can help you create a parenting agreement that maintains your relationship with your children. Schedule a free consultation by calling 630-584-4800.

Source:

http://www.divorcemag.com/blog/how-to-attend-an-event-as-co-parents