Transitioning into the role of a co-parent isn’t always easy. There’s a lot of changes that you and your ex will have to make in order to pull things off. However, there are some co-parenting essentials which you should prioritize. These key aspects can certainly help making things much smoother than before…
Co-Parenting Essentials
Parenting is the priority
Divorce means adjusting to a whole host of new changes. Some of these can include financial stresses and emotional difficulties. However, you can’t let these changes get in the way of your parenting. That’s why one of the co-parenting essentials is keeping parenting as your priority.
Don’t fall for the belief that your children are super resilient. A lot of parents think that they should focus on the divorce-related issues first before anything else. However, you’ll just make things harder on your kids. Instead, make sure they feel safe and secure after all that’s happened.
Include your ex
This co-parenting essential is one that many parent’s struggle with. However, it’s very important to allow for your kids to still have a healthy relationship with their other parent. Getting in the way of this can end up causing your kids a lot of emotional issues and resentment towards you. It’ll also make it harder to co-parent with your ex.
Allow for your kids to spend time with your ex, especially on the days they should have custody. Trying to interfere in this is a quick way to make things go south. Also, be sure to include your ex on any kind of new plans, such as when it’s back-to-school time.
Be flexible
Flexibility is another co-parenting essential. Being rigid in your schedule can be useful at first. That way, you can develop a routine and make it easier for your kids to adjust to the new parenting style. However, over time, it helps to become more flexible.
Flexibility is something you and your ex can both benefit from. For starters, it means you can have your ex cover for you if something comes up. Plus, it means you can both spend time with your kids even when it isn’t your assigned “day”. Overall, it’ll make co-parenting easier for everyone.