How To Effectively Co-Parent After A Divorce
When leaving a spouse, untangling finances and adjusting friend groups can be stressful. And if there are children, the parents are charged with figuring out how they can effectively co-parent and still live separate lives. While it may feel overwhelming at first, there are a lot of ways to make the process smoother, for yourself, your soon-to-be-ex spouse, and your kids.
To learn about custody sharing options and parenting plans, talk to a Bucks County family attorney. The sooner you enter into discussions with Pennsylvania or New Jersey attorneys, the less guessing and frustration you will experience. An agreement that works for your family could be negotiated with the support of seasoned legal professionals.
Crafting Effective Communication Channels
It makes sense that many people pursuing a divorce do not want to be in constant communication with their soon-to-be-ex spouse, and there are ways to effectively communicate and not field random phone calls. For example, with a parenting plan that outlines parental responsibilities, communication will be far less frequent, and the plan itself can state how communication will occur, if needed. Some co-parents prefer short texts, other co-parents use third party apps designed for co-parents.
Effective communication can maintain stability for the kids and smooth the transition from one home to the other and back. To create this stability, parents can agree to bedtimes and homework hours, for instance. Then, the children will know what to expect, whether they are at one parent’s home on a Monday night or the other parent’s house on a Thursday night.
Working Through Times of Transition
Co-parents can prepare to support their kids through the transition of living in one home to settling into two. Whether your arrangement involves transitions on weekends or weekdays, co-parents can build a plan to give kids what they need to thrive, such as keeping the kids informed of when they will be going to their other parent’s house and that they need to pack, from a favorite book they are reading to a special stuffed animal. Because even if each parent has a fully stocked clothes dresser, there are likely items that will help a child to feel at home, at least in the beginning phases of co-parenting.
Every family has its own considerations to review. What your family needs will not be the same as another family. Talking through your concerns with a Bucks County family attorney is a first step to bringing your post-divorce parenting goals into existence.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Divorce Lawyer Today
Is a productive co-parent relationship a goal for you and your spouse? There are tools that can help you effectively co-parent and reduce conflict, reach out to the legal team at Kardos, Rickles & Hand to learn more. Because our attorneys have extensive family law and parenting plan experience, they are able to introduce you to an array of co-parenting tools and then you can choose the ones that fit the needs of your family. To explore your parenting plan options, schedule an initial, no-cost consultation call 215-968-6602.
