As your marriage comes to an end, you have no choice but to turn your attention to the future. For people with children, a focus on co-parenting is an absolute must. Even if you’re not getting along with your ex-spouse, you should work together to provide your children with stability moving forward.
Co-parenting is easier said than done, as you and your ex may not have the same idea on how to raise your children. Here are five things you can do to get on the same page, while minimizing the risk of a serious argument:
- Take everyone’s feelings into consideration: Your children come first, but don’t overlook how your ex is feeling during this time. When you put yourself in their shoes, you won’t make decisions that harm them.
- Pick your battles very carefully: There will be times when you have no choice but to push back on your ex, even if you know it will cause an argument. While it’s okay to do so every now and again, pick your battles carefully. If every disagreement turns into a major fight, you’ll find it difficult to establish any type of co-parenting routine.
- Find a way to communicate effectively: Some divorced couples are okay with the idea of communicating in person and over the phone. Others don’t like this approach, so they rely on email and text messages. As long as you find something that works for the both of you, communication shouldn’t be an issue.
- Don’t get in the way: When your children are with your ex, do your best to stay out of the picture. Don’t show up early to pick up your children. Don’t send one text message after the next. Instead, respect their time together.
- Avoid discussing your personal life: Now that your marriage is in the past, you don’t have to share details of your personal life with your ex. Even if they ask, you can simply say “I’d rather keep that part of my life to myself.”
Once your divorce is finalized, dedicate your time to reclaiming control of your life and being the best parent possible. If your ex-spouse continually violates the parenting agreement, learn more about your legal rights so that you can stabilize your situation as soon as possible.