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Once the divorce has been finalized in a family law court and joint custody decided, you and your ex-spouse will face a new chapter of your relationship: life as co-parents. While deciding on the details isn’t always easy, it’s possible to provide your children with a stable home life post-divorce. Use these three tips to compromise amicably and make the best of this new period.

3 Tips for Creating a Successful Co-Parenting Plan

1. Let the Children Be Your Guide

While you might no longer share a romantic relationship, you both still care deeply about your children regarding their well-being and their opinions of you. Therefore, if your children have expressed their wishes about a particular issue, let them guide your compromise.

For example, while you both want your children on the weekends, they may have asked to spend the weekend with their mother because their best friends live next door. While it might be hard to concede one of your requests, doing what’s in your child’s best interest is a win-win.

2. Set a Plan, But Allow for Leniency

family lawSuccessful co-parenting is all about give and take. While it’s crucial to lay some ground rules and set a finite schedule, you’ll also need to know how to pick your battles to avoid long-standing conflict.

For instance, you likely both agree that the kids should study instead of going out with friends the night before a test. However, if one parent wants to let them stay up an hour later on Friday nights, they should have the freedom to do so within reasonable parameters. Instead of talking negatively about the parenting choice in front of your children, try to accept that you and your spouse might do things a little differently.

3. Establish a Reliable Mode of Communication

If you’ve had issues communicating with your ex-spouse in the past, it’s important to try to turn a new leaf after your divorce. With so many modes of communication available—from email and text to social media messages—it’s easy for information to get lost in translation.

Instead, pick one mode for communication about the kids, and ensure you each have notifications turned on. That way, there’s less of a risk that your spouse misses that change in pickup time or your friendly reminder about school picture day.

 

If you’re hoping to communicate effectively with your ex during or after a divorce, let Legal Solutions for Families in Turmoil, LLC be your guide. Jeffrey A. Robertson, a Warrenton, MO, attorney has been practicing law since 1986, and he’s proud to help clients with a number of family law issues. In addition to adoption, child custody, and divorce modifications, he also works in criminal defense. To learn more about his practice areas, visit the website. Call (636) 528-5220 to schedule a free initial consultation with this family law professional.

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