Co-parenting is an arrangement where individuals who are no longer in a romantic relationship or marriage share equal responsibility in bringing up their children. Co-parenting allows both parents to play an active role in the lives of their children and is designed to be less adversarial than situations where one parent gets primary custody.
Here are two reasons why you need to consider co-parenting after the divorce.
It’s easier to help the children adjust to the changes
The weeks and months following the divorce can be very confusing and traumatizing for the children. However, as children feel the love of both parents, they are able to adjust more easily and quickly to their new reality.
But, this can only happen when parents are working together to give their children the reassurance of their love and the commitment to be there for them at all times. Co-parenting gives the children the assurance that their parents’ love for them will never change, and that both parents will continue to be present in their lives.
Foster stronger and healthier relationships with the children
Communication is the building block of effective and successful co-parenting. The more parents are able to communicate about the developments in their children’s lives, the stronger their relationship with the children will be.
The opposite is also true. Co-parenting enables both parents to put their differences aside and work towards what is in the best interest of the children. Modeling good communication and a healthy parental relationship for your children helps them grow into stronger adults.
Co-parenting may be a relatively new concept. However, thanks to its numerous benefits, more and more divorced or separated parents are opting for co-parenting as their post-divorce parenting plan.