My Best Co-Parenting Advice~ 2 min read
When you and your co-parent choose Collaborative Divorce or Mediation instead of litigation, you set the tone for how you will handle parenting together. If you go into the process with the goal of fighting, that fight may never end. However, if you work together, you can build a foundation of respect that benefits both of you and, most importantly, your children. Choosing a peaceful approach now can lead to a better future for everyone involved.
Your Relationship Doesn’t End
Even though your marriage is ending, your relationship as co-parents will continue. You may not be best friends, and you don’t have to be. But if you can maintain respect and trust, you will create a healthier environment for your children. In some cases, parents even find that they trust each other more after the divorce than they did before because they have learned to work together in a new way.
Your Children Feel Everything
Even if you never bring your kids to court or openly discuss your divorce in front of them, they sense what is happening. Children pick up on tension, and ongoing hostility between parents can make them feel caught in the middle. A peaceful co-parenting relationship reduces stress and allows them to feel secure in both of their homes.
Think Long-Term
Your connection as co-parents doesn’t stop when your child turns 18. There will be graduations, birthdays, weddings, and possibly grandchildren in the future. If you allow negativity to take over, those life events can become stressful instead of joyful. Your children will remember how you handled this time, and your actions now will shape their relationship with you in the future.
Contact Family Ally
If you are going through a divorce and want to build a strong co-parenting relationship, Family Ally can help. Through Collaborative Divorce of Mediation, you can create a foundation of respect that benefits you and your children for years to come. Contact Jennifer Piper at 314-449-9800 to schedule a consultation and to learn more about your options.
