After a divorce, it can be challenging for parents to adjust to sharing parental responsibilities in separate households. Residual resentment towards one another may make the transition especially difficult for parents to navigate.
A strained co-parenting relationship could also make adjusting to the new dynamic stressful for children. These co-parenting strategies can help to facilitate effective cooperation and communication while sparing children from unnecessary stress.
Speak to one another directly
Parents need to avoid using their children as go-betweens to convey information or make plans. Children may feel uncomfortable when parents put them in the position of having to be a messenger, and they may worry that their parents are not capable of talking to each other without getting upset.
Be flexible with scheduling
Each parent must fulfil the commitments that they make in a formal parenting plan, but some flexibility is typically beneficial. Flexibility about the need to make changes in certain situations and willingness to accommodate one another can be advantageous to both parents.
Create a plan about decision-making
Parents are usually very precise about how they structure their childcare schedule. However, they do not always approach how they will handle parental decisions with the same degree of clarity. It is generally helpful for parents to reach a clear understanding about how they will approach important decisions concerning childcare.
In all of their interactions, parents need to prioritize their children’s wellbeing. Although a marriage is over, a divorced couple’s parental relationship will continue indefinitely. They need to focus on cultivating a positive relationship as co-parents rather than staying fixated on the marital relationship that has ended.
