Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for children to experience emotional trauma when their parents divorce. Going from having the cohesiveness of one family unit to now having to divide time between parents is challenging to say the least. Since children benefit from the involvement of both parents, co-parenting is the preferred child custody arrangement for most families in Colorado. Here’s how to make co-parenting successful.
For some spouses, the divorce may have been filled with conflict and it may be tempting to vent built up anger. However, never bad mouth the other party in front of the children. The children are a product of both parents. No matter how much pain an ex-spouse has caused, speaking bad about him or her in front of the kids will do nothing but cause more stress and emotional turmoil. Always try to stay neutral when talking about an ex-spouse in front of the children.
In order to make co-parenting work, communication and cooperation among parents is vital. It is always helpful for parents to sit down and work out a schedule. Mark the extracurricular activities that the children take part in and which parent will be in charge of each activity. Make sure to also include holidays and grandparents in the scheduling plan. Make an effort to construct the schedule in a way that keeps all parties satisfied.
A joint custody arrangement can only be successful if both parents are willing to cooperate and keep the best interests of the children at the forefront. Parents in Colorado who have questions about any aspect of child custody could benefit by seeking the services of a legal representative. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney can offer legal guidance and provide answers to difficult questions.