Many couples with children find that their biggest concern when getting divorced is how it will impact their children. Inevitably, your divorce causes some big changes in your child’s life. Having a strong parenting plan in place can help make the transition smoother, and benefit the whole family’s emotional wellbeing. Read on to discover the Rotella & Hernandez team’s tips for successful co-parenting.
- Communicate with your ex, but don’t use your child as the messenger.
Clear communication about scheduling, discipline, expectations, and big decision-making is essential. It is important to make sure that you and your ex are on the same page when it comes to parenting your child. However, you should handle this communication on your own and not use your child as a go-between. Passing messages through your child can result in many consequences just to name a couple 1) tone and meaning can get lost in translation when passing through a child and 2) your child can begin to feel responsible and even guilty when you and your ex disagree about things.
- Don’t complain about your ex to your child.
You got divorced for a reason — you probably aren’t always thrilled with everything your ex does. Save the venting for your adult friends and family members and for your therapist. Your child does not need to hear you speak negatively about their other parent. Ultimately, it will undermine your ex’s ability to parent them effectively, and at the end of the day, that doesn’t do anybody any good.
- Demonstrate flexibility and forgiveness.
Scheduling is hard and people make mistakes. You should prioritize the plan you made when you decided to co-parent, but avoid getting upset when things don’t go perfectly. When your co-parent makes a mistake, respond in the way you would want them to respond to you making the same mistake. You should also be flexible to adjustment as circumstances do change over time.
Who can help me create a successful parenting plan?
Your family law attorney can assist you in developing a fair and workable parenting plan with your ex. At Rotella & Hernandez, we understand the challenges that come along with parenting and are eager to help you face these challenges head on. If you are interested in learning more about how we can assist you, please give us a call at 305-596-3618. We look forward to hearing from you!