Co-Parenting After Divorce? Here are Tips to Follow

Life after divorce is very difficult. You will have to go from a home with two incomes to supporting yourself, and perhaps your children. If you have children and you share custody with your former partner, you will also have to co-parent. Co-parenting can be very difficult, particularly if your divorce from your former spouse was a bitter one.

However, it is important that you try to cooperate with your spouse and keep things as civil as possible. This can help you both avoid disputes in the future. Below, our Orlando child custody lawyer outlines some tips that can help.

Communicate Effectively 

Effective communication is critical when trying to co-parent to ensure that you are both on the same page. Focus conversations on the needs of your child to avoid misunderstandings. Also try to always remain calm and make sure that your language is always respectful.

Regularly checking in with each other can also help keep you and your former partner on track. These can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. For example, a monthly meeting or phone call reviewing everything coming up during the next few weeks will ensure both of you are aware of all upcoming events, arrange to be there, or make space in your schedules.

Keep Routines Consistent 

Generally speaking, all children benefit from a consistent routine. It gives them a sense of stability and security, while also helping to reduce their stress. To keep things consistent, try to ensure the daily schedules in both homes are similar including daily activities, meal times, and bed times. When children know what to expect at both homes, it can make transitions easier.

Also ensure the expectations and rules in both homes are similar. This helps children know what is expected of them regardless of who they are with at the time.

Respect Boundaries 

Everyone has the right to set reasonable boundaries and it is important that others respect them. For example, if one parent has the boundary that they want to keep their personal life to themselves, it is important the other does not cross that boundary by asking if they are dating. While consistency is important, it is also justified for different parents to have different parenting styles. It is important that each parent respects the other’s ways of parenting.

Prioritize the Needs of Your Child 

When time-sharing and parental responsibilities are agreed upon or ordered by a judge, the only factors taken into consideration are the best interests of the child. This standard should be maintained by both parents when co-parenting, as well. By focusing on the best interests of the child and putting personal interests aside, it can help each parent understand the best course of action to take.

Our Child Custody Lawyer in Orlando Can Help After a Dispute 

Peaceful co-parenting is essential to ensure that conflicts do not arise in the future that could cost everyone involved a great deal of time, money, and effort. If a dispute does arise, our Orlando child custody lawyer  at Anderson & Ferrin, P.A. can help. Call us now at 407-412-7041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html