How to successfully co-parent

 Posted on July 25, 2020 in Divorce

Your children's ability to thrive after a divorce depends in part on whether you and the other parent are able to successfully co-parent together in Texas, or anywhere else in the country. Starting with the custody agreement and continuing through every communication that you have, both parents will need to put the children's interests first and put their own ego and sensitivities aside.

The custody agreement can help co-parenting

Your co-parenting begins with the custody agreement. It is important to make sure that the custody agreement considers the children's own circumstances as opposed to imposing something on them for the parents' convenience. You will need to decide how to rotate the children between the parents' homes in a way that accommodates their schedules. You should avoid overcommitting to a schedule that you cannot uphold.

The children should be listened to and heard

At the same time, both parents need to make sure that their children's voices are heard. The older the children are, the more input they should have. The children will suffer if one parent speaks ill of the other to them. They benefit the most when the two parents are able to put past differences aside to work together for their good. This means that you should communicate with the other parent respectfully. If that is not possible, your lawyer can recommend various systems through the court that can facilitate more professional communication. Finally, you should be open-minded to review and change the custody agreement if circumstances evolve over time. The children will benefit from your flexibility.

Your family law attorney may help you get off to a strong co-parenting start by negotiating a custody agreement that is in the best interests of the children. Of course, you must do your part when it comes to dealing with the other parent. Nonetheless, getting the custody agreement behind you is the best way to begin to deal with the post-divorce reality and make life for your children as rewarding as possible. A solid co-parenting relationship is a major factor.