For parents that choose to not be in a relationship with one another, or whose relationship has come to an end, the idea of being able to parent their children with the other person in bliss might seem impossible. However, there are techniques you can use to make co-parenting that much easier and more successful for all concerned. So when you go through the process with denver custody lawyers, or ones like them, you will be able to set out the rules without any serious issues from your soon to be ex. Read on to find out what they are.
Keep things civil
One of the most important things you need to get right as a co-parent is making sure you keep things civil with your parenting partner. This can be something of a challenge at times, especially when the emotions associated with a breakdown of a relationship are involved. Determining custody of children can often turn into a brutal fight, but it needn’t be that way. If both parties keep their cool and have good representation similar to this child custody lawyer Schaumburg, then an agreeable conclusion regarding the children and co-parenting can be reached. After that, it is most important to adhere to the reached agreement.
It’s also crucial that you have your own effective lines of communication open, and that you do not use your child as a go-between for messages. The reason for this is that it can be very stressful for a child, and they can end up managing your reaction. With that in mind, if phone calls are too much try emails instead, unless it’s an emergency. This will then provide you with some emotional distance, while still allowing you to communicate on all the important issues.
If you are still in the process of breaking up, working with a professional separation lawyer can also be very helpful to the co-parenting process. This is because they will be able to formalise all the legal, financial and child custody issues so everyone clearly knows where they stand.
Plan weekends & holidays ahead of time
When it comes to co-parenting successfully, it’s vital that you give plenty of thought to holidays and weekends before they arrive. The reason this is so important is that it can be very helpful for your children to stay in their routine, and know what is coming up in their lives.
To stay on top of the times when the kids aren’t in school it can be helpful to sit down together as co-parents at the begging of the school year and decide who will get custody for each vacation. Seek the assistance of Bethesda child custody lawyers or similar professionals if you’re concerned about handling this on your own. It’s also a good idea to clearly set any expectations for holiday routines early on, as this can allow the other parent enough time to prepare so they can meet these.
Always put the kids first
Last of all, if you want to successfully co-parent your kids it’s vital that you put their wellbeing first. Of course, this can be a challenge, as you will also need to balance their well-being with your own needs in order to be an effective co-parent.
However, there are some strategies you might like to use, including rotating the adult’s residence in the family home rather than expecting your children to live between two homes. Indeed, this can work very well as it is much less disruptive for your children, and it ensures they get to stay in the same school, routines and close to their friends. It also allows you time away from the family as an adult which can be helpful to recharge and replenish your energy levels.
