Divorcing couples have the freedom to choose how they will care for their children as they part ways and move from one household into two. Many couples are foregoing sole custody by one parent and visitation by the other in favor of co-parenting, which divides parenting time more or less right down the middle. Parents who have chosen to co-parent their children acknowledge that it isn’t without its challenges, but that it is so very worth it.  If you decide to co-parent, the following things can be useful as you begin your co-parenting journey.

At the heart of every successful co-parenting relationship is a carefully planned parenting schedule. Work, school, and extracurricular activity schedules play a large role in what a parenting schedule looks like, but there is more to it than that. Including daily routines that provide structure and continuity for the children can help them to maintain a sense of security and predictability. Reviewing a parenting schedule carefully before agreeing to it is an absolute necessity, and keeping the temperaments of everyone in the family in mind as you review a proposed parenting agreement can help you to spot areas which could prove troublesome later on if they are not reworked prior to implementing the schedule.

Parents who share parenting responsibilities successfully work to keep the lines of communication open between them. Effective communication is a skill which can be learned and improved upon over time, but it is also one of those things where the very fact that you are making an effort often brings noticeable results. One way to set the stage for productive communication with your children’s other parent is to set up ground rules for communication ahead of time and then abide by them.

Another key ingredient for a successful co-parenting experience is avoiding the temptation to say negative things about the other parent. The damage that such negative messages can cause has been well documented. Children tend to perceive criticisms that they hear about people that they love as negative messages about themselves. While it may be difficult to avoid negative thoughts about your child’s other parent, there are ways to address those thoughts without letting them out where the kids could hear them.

Parents who choose co-parenting are often highly invested in helping their children adjust to the new look and feel of family life. When these parents invite children to share their feelings with them and the listen closely as their children talk about how they feel, children feel heard, understood, and able to count on their parents to be sensitive to their feelings.

Co-parenting is one way in which Texas couples can choose to divide up parenting time and responsibilities. Your Texas Family Law Attorney will help you to work with the other parent and his or her attorney to develop a parenting plan that works for everyone. To learn more about co-parenting or other topics related to divorce, call Attorney Alex Tyra today, at (903) 753-7499 or fill out a contact form on our website.