Divorce, when you have children, can feel like breaking your family apart. While you decide to separate, keep in mind that you are still your children’s family. Children fare worse in a home where parents have a rocky relationship than children of divorced parents. Following a divorce, co-parenting can help you and your spouse remain strong influences in your children’s lives.
According to Healthline, parenting allows you to share in the caretaking of your children and continue making major decisions as partners.
Put aside your feelings
Coparenting requires you to put your feelings about your spouse aside and focus on your kids. The kids are the most important thing; if you cannot let go of your feelings, you may find it difficult to talk about essential details about your children. Continue to vent your feelings to your friends, family and a therapist, if necessary, but keep your kids out of the problems in your relationship.
Professionally speak to the other parent. Try to stay concise and respectful. Talk to him or her like you would a colleague rather than a spouse. Try to be cooperative and think about your spouse’s feelings during important discussions. Actively listen to your former partner to ensure that there are no misunderstandings.
Plan for everything
You have to talk about more than caretaking responsibilities. You should discuss significant decisions, including education, religion and medical care. Talk about how you want to handle missing visitation or vacations with other members of the family. If you plan for everything, you do not have to devise a plan later. Likewise, you will risk fewer arguments.
Co-parenting may involve a lot of compromises. Learn how to work out solutions that both parents can live with.