Achieving Peaceful Co-Parenting After Your Illinois Divorce
Getting divorced when you have children brings about a wide variety of issues, worries, and concerns. Not only do you have to figure out how you will share parental responsibilities and how you will divide parenting time, but many parents also worry about how their children will be affected emotionally by the divorce. Statistics on this topic can be difficult to analyze; some sources say that divorce is detrimental to the mental and emotional health of children. While this can be true in some situations, a majority of experts agree that your children can grow up happy and healthy as long as they are able to experience a healthy co-parenting relationship between their parents. Co-parenting can be trying, even for parents who are amicable, but a peaceful relationship is not impossible.
Successful Co-Parenting Depends on Collaboration
You have heard it before, and you will most likely hear it many times during and after your divorce — cooperation and communication are key to success after divorce with children. You cannot hope to have a healthy co-parenting relationship with your ex if you do not know how to compromise or talk with each other effectively. Make it a habit to keep in regular touch with your ex about your child’s life, and always include him or her in important decisions.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
There are dozens of apps and websites available that were created to help people in your exact situation. So much of the success of your co-parenting relationship is dependent on communication, which also happens to be one of the hardest aspects of co-parenting. Using technology can help you and your ex discuss child-related issues. Websites such as Google Calendar can help you keep track of appointments and events for your child. Other companies such as Our Family Wizard have websites and apps to manage almost everything involved in co-parenting, such as parenting time schedules and expenses.
Help Your Children Transition Between Homes
For children, one of the most difficult parts of a divorce can be the fact that they now have to go back and forth between two homes on a regular basis. Children are good at adapting to new situations, but so many changes in such a small amount of time can be overwhelming for them. You can help your kids with the transitions by reminding them ahead of time of when they are going to the other parent’s house and assisting them with packing to ensure that nothing is forgotten. You can also aid with the transition between households by sticking to predictable drop-off and pick-up routines.
Contact a Kane County Divorce Attorney
Many parents are intimidated when they begin to co-parent after a divorce, but once you get into a routine, it gets easier. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we understand the importance of a successful co-parenting relationship during and after your divorce. We are confident that our North Aurora, IL parenting plan lawyer can help you and your spouse make schedules for parenting time and parental responsibilities that will work for your whole family. To discuss any questions or concerns you may have, call our office today at 630-409-8184 to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/co-parenting-tips-for-divorced-parents.htm
https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-online-communication-tools-for-co-parents-4080729