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A divorce or separation can be hard not only for you but can be especially hard on your children. It is important that during and after a divorce or separation your child feels as safe and comfortable as possible to help them emotionally transition to the new arrangement in their life. One of the best ways to give your child this security is through effective co-parenting. To make your co-parenting go as smoothly as possible follow the tips below.
- Don’t Make Your Children Messengers – Your children should not be used as a means of communicating with each other. It puts the child in an uncomfortable situation and does not teach them healthy communication skills.
- Have a Schedule – It is important for your child to know what happens next in their life. This will help to establish more security during the adjustment as well as after. Have a set schedule of when each parent will have the children and keep your children informed.
- Set a Consistent Discipline and Behavioral Policy – To avoid having children play favorites, or learn how to play parents against each other, it is important to establish a set of rules, consequences, and expected behavior. These rules need to be practiced at both homes so that your child will know and learn to adhere to behavioral expectations.
- Keep Conversations Focused on the Kids – When going through a divorce or separation, it is too easy to let emotions get in the way of productive conversations. Avoid bringing up past problems or emotions connected with the problems that led to the initial separation and keep all of your communication related to the care of your children.
Follow the four tips above to help make your co-parenting more effective and make your divorce or separation easier on your children by providing them with the safety and consistency they need during this difficult transition. If you need a reliable and knowledgeable child support lawyer, contact the Okemos family law attorney Bailey Smith & Bailey, Attorneys at Law today.
