Helping you build strong relationships with your ex-spouse and your children
Co-parenting can help meet the challenge of creating two new households after separation and divorce
At Epstein & Associates in Barrie, Ontario, we know that divorce or separation is much more than an event. It’s a process and an often challenging one at that, especially when children are involved. Although the partnership between you and your spouse is over, you will both remain parents to your child/children throughout your lifetime. In the event of a separation or divorce, parents may collaboratively raise their shared children. This relationship is called co-parenting.
Healthy co-parenting is an integral part of supporting your child through the crisis of divorce. Instead of fighting, choosing positive ways of interacting and communicating will help you and your spouse develop mutual feelings of respect. Meeting the challenges of setting up two happy, healthy homes for children can be complicated but not impossible.
Mediation sessions frequently help support co-parenting efforts. Unlike the traditional method of divorce, mediated divorce takes the approach of creating a negotiated agreement that settles issues of children, finances, a property and debt through sanctified meetings.
Successful Co-parenting is a Process
Successful co-parenting doesn’t happen overnight. It’s an ongoing process wrought with challenges and changes and it innately evolves as you and your children grow. However, when both parties commit to co-parenting, it forces each parent to work in unison and collaboratively in the best interests of the child/children.
Here’s some co-parenting tips that may help your family:
- Recognize that co-parenting involves compromising and creating consistency between each home
- Create a well-constructed, principled parenting plan can also help you through tough times. The ideal parenting plan usually stipulates arrangements such as: where children will live, time spent with family on each side, holidays and vacation time, special needs like medication, education, clothes, activities and additional financial expenses
- Be positive and avoid speaking negatively about your ex-spouse
- Encourage meaningful relationships between your child and each parent
- Recognize that you may have to give up some control and while you cannot control the other parent, you can control your response
- Avoid using your children as messengers by communicating through them
- Keep your children and their needs in mind in every decision you make
- Seek the support of a divorce therapist or mediator for your family
- Seek reputable legal advice from a family law lawyer
Whether proceeding with a traditional divorce, collaborative divorce or using mediated divorce as a method of separating, when children are involved, their best interests are at the forefront of the decision-making process.
At Epstein & Associates in Barrie, we understand that. Being a co-parent and also coping with the loss of a relationship is no easy task. We’re here to help. Our focus is family law, and we want to support you in your journey. Contact family law lawyers at Epstein & Associates in Barrie today for a free consultation about your unique family situation.