The coronavirus (COVID-19) changes the way you do everything, including co-parenting. After a divorce, a lot of situations will change, especially if you have children with your ex-spouse. Use these tips to help you make co-parenting easier for your child and yourself.
Communicate
Communication is one of the most important aspects of co-parenting. Make sure you and the other parent are always on the same page with events, such as birthdays, holidays, and other gatherings. If the two of you can’t come to an agreement, compromise so you both have something that you want. For example, if you want to spend Christmas with your child, but the other parent wants to spend Christmas with the child too, try alternating holidays. You can spend one Christmas with the child and next year, the other parent spends Christmas with the child, or you can switch holidays throughout the year. If you have something special planned for your child, let the other parent know, so they can plan accordingly.
Put the Child First
Co-parenting is primarily about the child, so make sure, if your child is old enough, that they have a say in when they spend time with their other parent. Your child may prefer to spend certain holidays with you and other holidays with their other parent. Respect how your child feels and make a plan with the other parent to meet the child’s needs. If your little one is not old enough to voice their opinion, make sure the time the child spends with each parent is fair.
Celebrate Together
If you and the other parent can celebrate your child together, that’s awesome. You can work with the other parent to plan different outings you both can attend, such as the zoo, museum, park, and other places. Celebrating your little one with the other parent creates a sense of belonging for your child, and allows both of you to spend time with the child in different settings.
Remain Consistent
It’s understandable that you may need to change your plans every once in a while, but try to remain consistent. If you and the other parent agree to meet at a specific time and place or you both agree to attend a particular event, try your best to keep those plans. If something comes up, and you need to change the plans, notify the other parent with enough time to reschedule and plan something else.
Create a Plan
Planning is another essential part of co-parenting. Work with the other parent as much as possible to create a co-parenting plan that benefits both of you. For example, if you work in the morning, and the other parent works at night, create a plan where the other parent watches the child during the day while you work, and you can watch your child when the other parent is at work. This plan allows both parents to spend quality time with the child. When children are on a schedule or have a routine, they know what to expect, and things flow a lot smoother for everyone than they would if there wasn’t a plan.
Be Flexible
Being flexible can be difficult, especially when it comes to co-parenting. If you can, be accepting of changing plans. Sometimes plans can’t be changed, and that’s understandable, but if you have extra time or something comes up that doesn’t disrupt your daily routine too much, try to be flexible and understanding.
How Can Bergman Family Law Help?
Bergman Family Law can help you through divorce proceedings, paternity, prenuptial agreements, and other areas of family law. Contact me today to learn more about the divorce process or schedule your free 15-minute Zoom consultation.
