Choosing a Co-Parenting Style That Works Best for Your Family

 Posted on March 14, 2022 in Divorce

Children greatly complicate divorce. Many divorcing parents worry about how the split will affect their kids. They also worry about how to manage a co-parenting relationship with their soon-to-be-ex. Parenting is already challenging enough. Parenting with someone to whom you used to be married is even harder.

Experts agree that children need predictability and consistency to feel safe. Finding a co-parenting strategy that works for you and your children and sticking with it is one of the best things you can do to help your children during this difficult time.

Traditional Co-Parenting Styles

Many divorcing parents remain on relatively good terms with each other. Although they no longer want to be married, they are able to remain respectful and cooperative for the sake of their children. Some co-parents are able to attend school functions, parent-teacher conferences, or even family vacations together.

If you and your ex are on good terms, you still need to establish the allocation of parental responsibilities and the parenting time schedule in your parenting plan. Many parents think they agree on parenting issues but run into disagreements later. For example, you may agree that one parent will keep the children on weekends and the other on weekdays, but neglect to determine parenting time on birthdays and holidays. Take some time to discuss the elements of your parenting plan in detail. Make sure to include how you and your ex will handle discipline, homework, curfew or bedtime, and other child-related matters. Put the decisions you make into writing.

Parallel Parenting and Minimizing Parental Contact

Some parents are unable to collaborate on parenting issues or even discuss the terms of the divorce without the discussion turning hostile. For some parents, it is better to handle parenting matters separately.

Parallel parenting is a co-parenting strategy that maximizes each parent’s autonomy and minimizes the interaction between the parents. The parents are still subject to a parenting plan, but they manage day-to-day concerns on their own. They do not attend appointments, school meetings, or extracurricular activities together. If the parents do need to communicate, they do so using text messages, email, or other written communication. Communicating in writing can help the parents avoid arguments and misunderstandings. Co-parenting apps like OurFamilyWIzard and Coparently as well as online calendars like Google Calendar can help ensure parents are on the same page about schedules and other child-related matters.

Contact a Kane County Parenting Plan Lawyer

Whether you and your child’s other parent are on the same page or you disagree on nearly every divorce issue, the skilled St. Charles divorce lawyers at Goostree Law Group can help. Call us today at 630-584-4800 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://lakesidelink.com/blog/lakeside/importance-of-predictability/

https://www.samhealth.org/about-samaritan/news-search/2020/04/16/structure-helps-kids-thrive-during-coronavirus-stay-at-home