One of the most difficult aspects of a divorce is trying to determine what will happen to the children. Even though you and your spouse are going through the difficult process of ending your marriage, you may decide that it is best for you to co-parent. This is a type of custody option that will provide your children with regular access to both of you.
Co-parenting requires cooperation and a mutual commitment to protecting the best interests of the children above all else. You may believe that this is the right choice for your unique family situation, but how can you make this work when you and your spouse don’t get along? Communication is the key to success in this type of custody plan, but some South Dakota parents can actually make it work without talking with each other.
Communication is key
In most cases, co-parenting requires parents to work together. This means they must be willing to talk with each other about changes in schedule, the needs of the children and other things that may pop up after divorce. While you and the other parent may not necessarily like each other, you may be able to do this by focusing on the needs of the children above your own personal feelings in the moment.
One thing that can help you make co-parenting work well is to resolve to avoid bad mouthing the other parent in front of the kids. You can both commit to remaining civil while you are attending events for the kids, and you can both try to have consistent rules in both homes. This will provide continuity of lifestyle for the kids, which is beneficial for every member of the family.
Non-communicative co-parents
There are rare cases where two parents can make a co-parenting relationship work well without actually talking with each other. If you want to provide your children with the benefits of a co-parenting relationship yet cannot talk with the other parent, you may want to find a way to be peaceful non-communicative co-parents. It is crucial for you to have a solid custody plan and detailed schedule in order to successfully co-parent without talking.
Regardless of the approach you want to take with your co-parenting plan, you will want to think carefully about the long-term implications for your children and yourself. Before you agree to any terms or many any decisions, you may want to speak with a family law attorney about your options.
