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Co-parenting can be a challenge under the best of circumstances. After a divorce, you may struggle to even tolerate your child’s co-parent, let alone build a positive relationship with them. Regardless of where you are at on your co-parenting journey, it will continue to be important for you to strive for the best possible co-parenting relationship you can sustain. The bottom line is that the person who stands to suffer the most in a toxic co-parenting relationship is the child. Here are some tips on how you can build a positive co-parent relationship.
Building a Positive Co-Parenting Relationship
The foundation of a positive co-parenting relationship will be communication. Finding a way that works best for you to communicate with your co-parent will look different for everyone. Whether communication happens through text, phone calls, or a co-parenting messaging app, finding a reliable way to stay in touch with your co-parent is critical. If phone calls work best or if you ever make decisions with your co-parent with an in-person conversation, always be sure to put the details down in writing. So, if you had a conversation setting forth who will pick up your child, as well as when and where, be sure to relay those details back to them in writing. This can make sure everyone is clear on the details and can also be something for you to later reference if there is any confusion.
The method of communication will be important, but so will the nature of your communications. You do not have to like your co-parent. There are many co-parents out there who do not enjoy each other’s company, but still have a positive co-parenting relationship. Keep your communications brief and to the point. Avoid talking about your co-parent in a negative way. Such talk can be damaging to your co-parenting relationship and can also be damaging to your child’s relationship with both you and your co-parent. Model working together for your child. They are always watching more than you know!
Another key aspect to building a positive co-parenting relationship will be sticking to the parenting plan. The details in the parenting plan will include things like parenting time and also address how holiday time is divided. While things happen, you and your co-parent should strive to be as consistent with the parenting plan as possible. It will help everyone manage competing schedules. Following the parenting plan will help both you and your child know what is on the horizon for parenting time and help manage expectations accordingly.
Florida Family Law Attorneys
After a divorce or after a child custody battle, it may seem next to impossible that you will ever be able to build a positive co-parenting relationship with your child’s other parent. Give it time. Be patient with yourself as you work toward this goal. For all of the child custody and visitation legal complications that may arise along the way, the dedicated team of Florida family law attorneys at Bernal-Mora & Nickolaou are here to help. Contact us today.
