Raising children with your ex isn’t an easy journey, but it’s necessary if you share custody. Even if you and your ex agree on matters most of the time, there are bound to be disagreements. Having a plan in place for handling those is critical.
Co-parenting disagreements can include a variety of topics, such as school choices, schedules, discipline, medical care, travel, activities and communication. It’s important to consider how important the matter is before you decide if it’s worth the battle. Here are some strategies that can help.
Keep your children at the center
Clear communication should remain focused on the children. Venturing into other areas, such as what ended your relationship, will almost certainly lead to disagreements. If the conversation starts to veer away from the children, take a pause to bring it back or end it completely.
Commit to remaining calm
It’s important to remain calm when you’re dealing with your ex, but this might not be easy. They may try to get you upset by saying or doing things they know will upset you. Instead of letting them see you react, remain calm and focused. It might be best to take a step back to let things settle and then discuss the matter later.
Communicate directly
Having the children pass messages between you and your ex can lead to misunderstandings. Instead, communicate directly with each other so the messages are clear and the chance of misunderstanding what’s going on is minimal.
Communication provisions should be included in the parenting plan. This helps ensure that both parents know what’s expected. Since the parenting plan is a highly customized document, it’s important to have experienced legal guidance with the parenting plan as well as all child-related matters.
