Tips for successful co-parenting in New Jersey

Not all marriages in New Jersey and elsewhere stand the test of time. In fact, around 40 to 50 percent of all U.S. couples who marry will ultimately divorce, according to the American Psychological Association. However, the end of a marriage is not necessarily the end of the relationship for moms and dads. It is becoming more common for divorcing parents to share child custody. While it may be in their child’s best interests, co-parenting is often a challenging undertaking. Nonetheless, there are things that parents can do to successfully co-parent their children.

The purpose of shared parenting is to allow children to maintain a relationship with both of their parents. In order to make this type of arrangement effective for their families, people are advised to be supportive of their children’s communications and visits with their other parents. This may help them avoid making their kids feel guilty about talking to and spending time with their other parent. Furthermore, it is suggested that people aim to make the transitions from one household to the other as peaceful as possible for their children.

Ongoing conflict between parents can be upsetting for their children and complicate the co-parenting process. Psychology Today points out that it is important for those with shared parenting arrangements to be respectful to and of each other. Parents should refrain from speaking poorly about their former spouses to or in front of their children. Doing so may make their kids feel as though they have to choose a side, which may be damaging to one or both parent-child relationships.

When co-parenting, communication is key. In order to make this type of arrangement work smoothly, it is important for parents do discuss what is going on in their children’s lives, their schedules and any problems they have had with each other. Additionally, people may keep their exes informed of any significant changes or developments in their own lives so that both parents are prepared to help their children deal with or adjust to them.

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