Making Co-Parenting Work

Raising a child is no small feat, but it can be particularly challenging after divorce. Despite this, many Kentucky parents are effectively sharing the responsibility of child rearing even after going their separate ways. Making co-parenting work takes effort from both parties, though, and keeping some of the following in mind may prove helpful for parents who are starting their own co-parenting journeys.

Being consistent is a good way to provide stability to a child. Divorcing parents should take advantage of the time when they are creating the child custody agreement to talk about ways to create that consistency. For example, many choose to uphold similar rules regarding phone use, computer games, bedtimes and socializing across both households. While these might not show up in the actual custody agreement, addressing these things early on can make for a smoother transition to co-parenting.

Of course, just because parents agree to certain rules or expectations does not mean that they will both hold up their end of things. Documenting problems or aggressive interactions with the other parent can be helpful should things head back to court. It is not uncommon for one parent to try to modify an existing custody order if his or her ex is being less than cooperative, so this information will come in handy during such a situation.

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to co-parenting. However, being consistent and carefully documenting any issues are two approaches that most Kentucky parents may find helpful. Creating the best possible child custody agreement is another good way to kick off a healthy co-parenting relationship, so speaking with a knowledgeable family law attorney could prove helpful to some.