A divorce might be the end of a marriage, but it is not necessarily the end of the relationship between two parents. When Michigan parents have shared custody, many continue co-parenting their children.
One of the essential aspects of successful co-parenting is communication.
What are the benefits of co-parent communication?
Communication is necessary for effective co-parenting. It can benefit the whole family by:
- Making collaboration easier between co-parents;
- Maintaining consistency and stability for children; and
- Keeping parents on the same page regarding the child’s needs.
Regular communication can also help parents make decisions more efficiently. Parents usually must create a plan for making decisions regarding their child’s life in their parenting plan, and communicating can help both parents ensure they stick to the agreements they made in their parenting plan.
However, communicating may not always be easy
Co-parenting with an ex-spouse is not always easy. Even after an amicable divorce, speaking with an ex-spouse can still be stressful and emotional.
Communication is important for successful co-parenting. However, parents should make sure they are strategic about their approach to communication. For example, it can help parents to:
- Establish rules: Parents should agree on methods of communication. Do they prefer text messages or in-person communication? It can also help to create rules about when parents can contact each other and ensure that both parents maintain honest and respectful communication.
- Set boundaries on topics: Many parents find it is helpful to focus all conversations only on the children. This prevents parents from running into old conflicts or badmouthing each other.
- Create a dispute-resolution method: If parents disagree about an issue in their child’s life, they should make sure they can comfortably voice their concerns and work through problems.
Co-parenting takes work and dedication. However, parents can use communication and careful strategies to help ensure they meet their child’s needs now and in the future.
