According to statistics, as many as one out of five marriages with children end in divorce. And while you might like to believe that co-parenting with your ex may be easy after getting divorced, most of the time it’s more challenging than not. Being on the same page about your parenting choices can be difficult even in an amicable breakup. However, it’s critical that you both meet eye to eye for the good of your children. If you’re looking for some co-parenting tips for raising wonderful kids together, take a look at some of the best out there.
Be The Bigger Person
When you’re going through a breakup it’s not always easy to put on a brave face. It can be challenging to try and be the perfect parent when you’re suffering inside. It’s OK to give yourself some time to heal so that you don’t act out on your anger. Do some reflecting, and give yourself whatever you need to move on. Enlist the help of friends and family to take breaks when you need it. If the other parent is not ready to be peaceful yet, then do whatever it takes for you to be the bigger person no matter what.
Find Support
You may want to reach out to friends and family members who have also gone through divorces with children who may have some great advice about how to successfully co-parent. The more support you can provide yourself, the more you’ll succeed at being able to be the parent that you want to be. In addition to asking your friends for some mentoring, you may also want to educate yourself with articles and books. Reading tips from the experts can be extremely helpful, and can help you stay in a calm state of mind when your first instinct is to react negatively.
Create a System
One of the best ways to create consistency for your child is to develop a system with your ex for keeping up with your child’s schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Whether it’s using Google Calendar, or keeping a notebook in their backpack that you both contribute to, you need some sort of system in place to stay organized. If the court is still in the process of determining custody, then you may not have a court apponted schedule yet. It’s important that you create a system between the two of you that helps everyone anticipate when the next visiting periods will be.
Don’t Bad Mouth The Other Parent
One of the most important things that you can do is avoid bad-mouthing your ex even if you’re extremely frustrated with their behavior. Your children will feel confused and guilty if they hear one parent speaking badly about the other. If you must let off some steam, do so with a friend, not your child.
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