Co-parenting is not an easy job. There are bound to be disagreements on bed times, discipline, vacation schedules and more — even between divorced or estranged parents who generally get along well. However, learning how to cope with common co-parenting issues can help you prepare for those issues that might be less common. Here are some issues that virtually all co-parents who live separately face:
— Changes in schedules: When one parent asks to change a child’s schedule at the last minute, it’s important to remember to do what is best for the child and not what is best for you.
— Bed times: If your child hits the hay at 8:00 p.m. at your house and 11:00 p.m. at the other parent’s house, that can cause some real problems when it comes to getting up for school or other functions. It’s better than the two of you fighting about bed times in front of the child, though. Flexibility is not a bad trait for your child to learn; however, a more consistent bed time can be healthy when it doesn’t come at a point of conflict.
— Exes who are uncooperative: You likely can’t control your ex anymore than you could when the two of you were married. You can, however, control what say and do. Keep your conversations with your ex short, courteous and non-judgmental.
If you divorce when your children are still young, there will be many years of co-parenting ahead of you. Even when your children are adults, there will still be co-parenting to do. Remember to keep your children first. If there are serious issues, consider reaching out to your divorce attorney to return to court for modifications to your parenting plan.
Source: Huffington Post, “7 Issues All Co-Parents Face And How To Overcome Them,” Carolin Lehmann, accessed May 19, 2017
