One of the most difficult tasks that parents in Montana may face during and after a divorce is building a functional co-parenting relationship with one another. However, it is also one of the most important ones. The best route to success for most parents in this situation is to focus on the best interests of the child, which can allow them to put aside complex and negative emotions they may have about one another and work toward a common goal.
Reaching a compromise
With the exception of situations where abuse has occurred, co-parenting is generally considered to be the ideal arrangement for children after a divorce. It allows them to continue to have a relationship with both parents. This can be tough for people who may have very different parenting styles, and they need to keep in mind that they can both create loving and supportive environments for their children even if they do not approach it in the same way. Ideally, parents will agree on consistent or at least similar rules between households, but even if this is not possible, neither parent should say negative things about one another in the presence of their children.
Scheduling
It is also important for parents to be consistent about the scheduling. Transparency is helpful as well. Easy access to a Google calendar for older children and a large visual hanging on the wall for younger children can reassure them and give them a sense of stability.
Important rules
Parents can include rules that are important to them in the parenting agreement. It is common for them to want to include guidelines about when children meet a parent’s new partner. Parents should make an effort to keep one another informed about these kind of life changes and should never use their children as messengers.
Co-parenting is full of challenges, but parents who can no longer function as partners often find that they can continue to work together as a team when the focus is on their children. Much of the groundwork for this success can be set down during the divorce process itself.