You and your ex may have agreed to co-parent, but that does not mean that you won’t face any problems during the process. After all, you got divorced for a reason, and the issues you had as a married couple can come back to the surface if you share legal and physical custody of your child. However, there are some ways in which you can avoid fights and spare your child of unnecessary conflicts.
Have a good communication
You have formally ended things with your ex, but you will still need to maintain a cordial relationship with them if you want co-parenting to work. As in any relationship, good communication is a must. You and your ex can avoid fights if you talk about your roles and wishes regarding your child’s education. Also, you should always answer any emails or calls coming from your ex. Avoiding them would only make things worse, and they also have the right to check on your child while they are with you.
Plan ahead
Unless the court asks for it, it is not necessary to establish a formal parenting plan with your ex. However, it would be good to do this independently so that both of you can know when you get to spend time with the kids. Establishing a plan will be especially useful during holidays and school breaks because that’s when parents argue the most about parenting time.
Respect your ex
Your ex might see things differently than you do, and you must respect that. They might have a different parenting style, but it is not wrong as long as it does not hurt the child. Interfering with their ideas, or critiquing them, can only make things worse. You should also avoid expressing your dissatisfaction to your children, as you should not involve them in something that only concerns you and your ex. Besides, you can fall into parental alienation if you constantly talk badly about your ex.
Put your kids first
Seeing your ex may be uncomfortable, but sometimes you’ll have to do it. Your child will want you to be involved in their life, and they will feel disappointed if you don’t go to important events just because you want to avoid running into your ex. Even if you are angry with your ex, you should set your feelings aside and do what is best for your kid.
Successful co-parenting
Co-parenting is not easy, but if it is done right, your kids will benefit from it. By maintaining a civil relationship with your ex, things will go more smoothly for your kids. After all, they shouldn’t keep witnessing the same disputes both of you had as a married couple.