Parenting your child when they doesn’t live with you full-time presents a number of challenges. Considering the fact that children thrive on consistency, it makes sense why some parents choose to co-parent after a divorce. That way, rules and expectations remain consistent between homes. It isn’t always easy for the parents to accomplish, but often times, it is in the best interest of the kids.
Your parenting plan is your blueprint for raising your children together. When working with your ex to decide the terms of your parenting plan, you must include everything that will help your children adjust to their new way of life. Often a complex undertaking, both you and your ex will likely need to sort through hot-button issues. The help of experienced legal professionals can assist you in determining your options.
A major factor to remember is that the parenting plan you and your ex decide on now, will probably need tweaking later on. As your children get older, their needs will change- sometimes drastically. You should be prepared to modify your parenting plan accordingly. Ideally, this is done through a casual agreement between you and your ex, but if necessary a modification petition can be filed with the court.
Often, a child custody situation will improve when co-parents can maintain positive attitudes. Despite the fact that you and your ex are on different sides of the divorce, you are still your child’s parenting team. Make sure that you present a united front to your kids to maintain consistency, and so that they don’t attempt to divide and conquer.
As you work to develop a workable parenting plan, remember to be realistic about your situation. Your plan should be based on your child’s needs and all related circumstances.