Making a co-parenting situation work can be a challenge, but being able to communicate appropriately with your ex can help. The communication between you and your co-parent should be calm and respectful whenever possible.
Addressing each of these concerns proactively can impact how communication is handled for the better.
Keep the focus on the children’s needs
Both parents must commit to focusing solely on what the children need, including education, medical and scheduling matters. This can be challenging, especially if emotions are still raw from the split. When you’re thinking about decisions you must make, think about how they will affect the children. Try to avoid making choices based on what will be most difficult for your ex or easiest for you, when appropriate.
Always communicate directly
You and your ex should always communicate directly with each other. Never try to have the children give your ex messages from you. Trying to pass messages through the kids could lead to miscommunicated messages and the children receiving the brunt of complaints about the message. Additionally, you should never speak ill of your ex when the kids are around.
Know how to handle disputes
There are bound to be disputes when you’re co-parenting. There should be a plan in place for handling these matters. One thing that’s important to remember is that good decisions aren’t usually made in anger. If things are getting contentious, taking a step back from the situation may be beneficial so you can calm down some and think logically about how to resolve the matter.
Ultimately, both parents have to do what they can to provide a solid foundation for their children. Having a parenting plan in place that enables you both to do this is beneficial, but coming up with the terms might be challenging. Seeking personalized legal guidance is a great way to get started.