When you decide to get divorced, you may worry about how this decision will affect the lives of your children. But many people get divorced every year, and many new parents learn how to co-parent with their ex effectively.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 782,038 divorces and annulments occurred in the U.S. in 2018. If you are one of the many planning to get a divorce, certain strategies can help you build a successful co-parenting relationship with your former spouse.
1. Set aside feelings of anger and hurt
If you and your ex decide to co-parent, you have to put aside any feelings of anger, hurt or resentment. Setting aside your own personal feelings and putting your children first can help you and your co-parent work cooperatively together after you get a divorce.
2. Make important decisions together
You should always make major decisions about your children with the help of your former spouse. Remember to put your children’s wellbeing first and work through these big decisions with openness and honesty.
3. Commit to communicate
You can improve your co-parenting arrangement by committing to fluid, consistent communication. You may want to set aside a time every week or month to go over arrangements with your former spouse and talk about your children’s needs.
Most importantly, the key to any beneficial relationship is flexibility. As you start to co-parent, things may not always go as planned, but staying flexible can help both you and your former spouse do what is best for your children.