Co-parenting in the modern age is, in many ways, easier than it has ever been. Instead of speaking with your child’s other parent directly – which could understandably lead to a fight – you can email them or message them via a co-parenting app. And instead of going days, weeks or even months without seeing your child’s face, you can initiate a video chat with them whenever that works for everyone involved.
Setting clear expectations and boundaries for electronic communication between you, your co-parent and the child(ren) you share is a good idea. Otherwise, communication resources that can serve as wonderful tools for strengthening bonds between your child and each of their parents can become sources of tension.
Crafting a schedule and expectations concerning electronic communication is known as virtual visitation. You can either include virtual visitation provisions in your parenting time agreement or you can ask an attorney about adding these expectations to your parenting plan as a modification or addendum.
Figuring out what will work for your family
There is no single “right” way to approach virtual visitation. Before committing to any particular structure, schedule or electronic resources, take some time to consider your family’s unique needs. If you see your children every week, you may only need to set up enough virtual visitation time to keep your kids from missing you too much when you’re away. If you live long-distance from your child, regular, dynamic contact could help to facilitate a strong relationship across the miles.
No matter how you approach the subject, try to figure out a schedule – and means – that will work for you, your child and your co-parent. Otherwise, this potentially powerful resource could turn into a source of ongoing tension. If you have questions about how to construct the virtual visitation provisions of your parenting agreement effectively, don’t hesitate to seek legal guidance at any time.