One of the most difficult aspects of any divorce is deciding how to address child custody. This is an emotionally charged issue, and North Carolina parents sometimes decide that sharing custody is what will work best for their unique family situation. Co-parenting is a popular option, but there some things you may want to consider before moving forward with this choice.
Co-parenting means that both parents will share relatively equal amounts of parenting time and responsibility for the kids. This will require a commitment to cooperation and respect, which is not always easy for two people who just went through a divorce. Choosing this option may mean you have to set aside your own personal feelings and preferences for the well-being of your children.
Making it easier for everyone
You know that co-parenting may be a little difficult at times, and thankfully, there are choices you can make that will make this process easier for yourself, the other parent and your children. When custody issues go smoothly, it reduces stress for the kids and helps them transition to post-divorce life. Some of the things you may want to remember include:
- Co-parents need to support each other, even when it’s hard. Kids will suffer when they see their parents saying negative things about each other and trying to compete.
- You and the other spouse will need to work together to find a way to handle disciplinary matters and related matters in a similar way. This also means having similar behavior expectations in both homes as well.
- Providing consistency is a good way to make sure your child feels secure and stable when going between your house and other parent’s home. Making this transition easier is good for everyone.
These are only a few ways you can make your co-parenting arrangement work smoothly. It can also help to remember that your ultimate goal is to protect the best interests of your children above how you feel in the moment.
A solid foundation
The foundation of any good parenting plan is a solid and thoughtful custody order. When drafting your plan, it is helpful to think long-term, considering how your choices will work a year from now and beyond. When you are careful and considerate when negotiating these terms, it will result in a final order than is good for your kids and satisfactory for both parents. This will lead to fewer disputes and post-divorce complications.