3 tips for difficult co-parenting relationships

On Behalf of | Oct 15, 2024 | Family Law

The breakup of a relationship between two people who share children can lead to a complicated situation. The two people no longer want to be together. They would probably prefer not to have to hear from or see each other. But for the sake of their children, they must stay in frequent contact.

Co-parents need to keep their communication alive in sometimes difficult circumstances. The following tips may help:

1. Think before you speak

If your relationship or the breakup of it was argumentative, it could be easy for your co-parenting relationship to continue in that vein. One person says something that triggers the other and before you know it you are arguing again. That’s not good for anyone and can lead to both parties saying hurtful things they don’t really mean.

Before you say something, pause and consider whether it is helpful, whether the other person could misinterpret it or if your child would be happy to hear you saying it. 

2. Find safer ways to communicate

If you struggle to keep things civil when speaking face-to-face or on the phone, try to limit those interactions. Consider restricting communication to email – where you have time to reflect on your words before pressing send. Or make use of co-parenting apps that allow you to share much of the information you need to pass on without the need for direct communication.

3. Start out as well as possible

The custody and parenting agreement you draw up can help you set ground rules for many of these things. A well-thought-out plan that is fair to both parties can also help to ease your relationship into a new more positive stage. Learning more about your options for making one is a wise first step.