The new school year is just around the corner. If the new back-to-school television advertisements are not an indication, the curiosity and anticipation that children have certainly is. New school years are emblematic of change, which means that parents must also be ready to embrace a new chapter in their lives. For those parents going through a divorce (or experiencing a new school year for the first time after a divorce) the upcoming school year will certainly be a new experience.
This post will highlight some lessons parents can benefit from.
Sharing information is key – One point of contention for divorcees is being informed about a child’s progress in school. This may include being privy to assignments and obligations, as well as special events. The best way to avoid being left out is to be proactive about obtaining school information.
Since you have two households, make sure that school information is provided to both parents. Also, parents should be proactive about scheduling conferences with teachers (or guidance counselors) to stay on top of what is going on at school.
Keep kids out of the middle – In the midst of gaining information, it is also important to keep kids out of any disputes. Children have enough to handle with the new school year, the added burden of having to keep parents involved could be too much. However, parents should be aware that some kids will use their parents’ ignorance against them. If one parent is in the dark, a child may try to take advantage of them.
Source: HuffingtonPost.com, Back to school learning: Sharing is not just for kids, August 1, 2013