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Making co-parenting easier

On Behalf of | Feb 7, 2013 | Child Custody, Parenting Time |

Co-parenting after a divorce can be an awkward, emotionally challenging experience. On the one hand, the contrast in parenting styles is likely one of the reasons your relationship ended. On the other hand, the importance of parents focusing on the best interests of their children is paramount, and it can be difficult to do when one parent is incorrigible.

Nevertheless, Ohio family court judges expect parents to put their personal differences aside and work together to give a child the support he or she needs in order to grow up to be a productive adult. In this post, we will identify a few tips to put things in perspective and make co-parenting easier.

Support household differences – It’s important for parents to have an understanding about the differences in how their respective households are run. This includes expectations about chores, television time, and bed times. In essence, one parent should not exert their influence over the other parent’s choices. It would be ideal for parents to agree on universal rules, but when they don’t, all household rules must be respected.

Set aside time to plan – The old adage “planning for the worst fosters the best” applies here. When parents plan for the unexpected, they will know how to deal with life instances that can potentially make co-parenting difficult. For those who have trouble planning (due to communication issues or personal differences) a parenting plan specialist may help.

Be dependable – It is critical that you do what you say you’re going to do. If you say that you’re going to pick up a child a particular time, do it. If you say that you’re going to buy something for school, do it. If you promise to help out for a child’s activity, keep your promise.

Source: HuffingtonPost.com, How to make custody arrangements less stressful for kids, January 25, 2013

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