Going through a separation is always stressful for everyone involved and comes with many emotional, financial, and oftentimes legal hurdles to overcome. This is especially true when there are children involved. The divorcing couple typically follows court-ordered custody and child support agreements following the divorce. However, parents will still need to learn how to co-parent to ensure the children grow up in a comfortable and stable environment. When parents can build a positive and supportive co-parenting relationship, their children feel a strong sense of security. To learn more about co-parenting after your divorce, call an experienced family law lawyer at the Colorado Divorce Law Group at 720-593-6442.
Creating a strong, open, and supportive co-parenting relationship with an ex-partner presents countless opportunities, but it does not come without its challenges. According to The Family Institute, nearly 50% of children in the United States will experience divorce, and 25% will experience a second divorce. When a relationship ends, and there are children, a sound co-parenting relationship plays a significant role in children’s happiness, well-being, and future. Parents who commit to overcoming challenges and working together provide positive and stable environments conducive to their children’s growth and success.
Creating a healthy parenting relationship with an ex-spouse or partner is oftentimes difficult. Yet, taking steps to develop a cordial and cooperative union will have lasting positive effects on your children, and build a positive environment in which they can thrive.
The first step to building a healthy and amicable relationship with an ex-partner is to learn how to communicate effectively. Co-parenting requires learning new communication methods, even when there are negative feelings from the past. It also requires letting past relationship conflicts go and learning to work together in a different relationship as co-parents. Keep conversations amicable and choose battles carefully. If verbal communication often leads to arguments, try text messaging and emailing to see if there are better results.
Going to court over every dispute will lead to more negative feelings and, in turn, cause more stress for the children. Recognizing their happiness takes priority over old feelings is critical. When conflicts arise, attempt to find alternative ways to settle them, such as seeking help from a counselor or other professional.
According to the Centers for Navigating Family Change, parents struggling to work together during or after a separation or divorce could benefit from short-term counseling sessions. Meeting a professional could help get past the challenges and transition to an effective co-parenting relationship. Learning to resolve disputes without litigation will lead to a more harmonious and productive relationship as you co-parent after your divorce.
The best way to successfully co-parent is for both parents to let go of the past and focus on supporting their children and the process of co-parenting after your divorce. When parents prioritize their kid’s happiness and well-being above anything else, everything else will begin to fall into place.
Communicate with children effectively and carefully. Adults often forget how observant young people are and think keeping them in the dark is best. Talking to children openly and honestly ensures they feel safe and supported. However, it is essential to refrain from speaking poorly of their other parents. It can be hurtful and damaging to hear one parent they love saying bad things about the other. If there are intense feelings one of both parents needs to talk about, they should speak to other adults, such as friends or a therapist.
The end of a marriage or relationship does not mean that parenting styles and the roles of each parent must change. When two people can commit to cooperating and keeping the children’s best interests a top priority, they are on the way to reaching a positive relationship that is best for the children. One essential step is putting feelings aside and supporting the other parent’s relationship with their children.
Include the other parent in all significant decisions. Being inclusive is another vital aspect of a good parenting partnership. When both parties feel the other respects and value their feedback, it creates a positive co-parenting foundation after your divorce.
When two adults that used to be in a relationship are co-parents, disagreements are bound to happen. Even so, there are ways to resolve the issues amicably without causing turmoil for the kids. According to the nonprofit organization, Help Guide, the best way to resolve conflicts is to keep communicating effectively and openly. If you find that you have disputes and struggle with co-parenting after your divorce, consider the following:
Most parents recognize that a supportive and solid co-parenting alliance is critical after divorce. Even so, there are times when two people struggle to agree and communicate effectively. When that happens, it is best to continue making an effort and remain supportive, regardless of the other’s actions. One parent working towards a productive co-parenting relationship increases the likelihood that the other will begin to act similarly. An understanding family law attorney at Colorado Divorce Law Group could answer questions about resolving convicts and co-parenting after divorce.
Relationships commonly end in separation and divorce. However, when you share children, there will always be a significant bond and shared interest. A supportive and effective co-parenting relationship allows people to continue parenting together as they did before the relationship ended. Working together to parent your children is the best way to ensure they feel safe and loved, even if their parent relationship ends. It also lets both parents remain a significant part of their child’s life and be involved in vital decisions. Parents are their children’s first and most influential role models, and a secure co-parenting relationship sets a good example. For more information about co-parenting after your divorce, call an experienced family law lawyer at the Colorado Divorce Law Group at 720-593-6442.