I keep reading about celebrity co-parenting in the news. What does it mean?
Unfortunately, no one is immune from divorce. Couples across all walks of life from celebrities to your favorite friends or neighbors choose to end their marriages every year. Regardless of the cause, it is important for divorcing parents in New Jersey to work together to ensure the best possible outcome for their children. Although ending a marriage is no doubt difficult for the divorcing couple, parents should remember that their children are likely experiencing similar feelings of loss, anger, betrayal, and emotional pain.
Most couples in New Jersey and elsewhere don’t consider on their wedding day that they may divorce. Similarly, many parents never pictured themselves negotiating parenting time or alternating holidays with their children. In order to provide kids with the stability they need, many former couples choose to co-parent. While effective co-parenting can be difficult at times, working towards this common goal is often vital for a child’s well-being. How do you do that? Good question! Here’s how.
First, communication is key. Although your children do not need to know all of the gory details of your divorce, they probably have a lot of questions about their new life. Taking into account each child’s age and maturity level, parents should sit their kids down and explain that adults cannot always stay together and remind them that both of you will always be there for them no matter what.
Additionally, effective co-parenting may require parents to agree to a basic set of rules that will be followed at each home. This provides kids with much needed consistency throughout their parents’ divorce and beyond. Particularly with young children, it can be confusing to remember which rules to follow at which home. Even if you cannot agree with your former partner about each issue, educational goals and study time should be monitored closely due to the effect such endeavors can have on your child’s future.
Divorcing parents should also refrain from questioning their children about a former spouse’s new lifestyle. It is important to remember that kids are not messengers and should not be placed in such a position. Questions for a child’s other parent should be asked directly. Similarly, parents should not condone or tolerate a child’s complaints about a former spouse. Instead, children should be encouraged to resolve conflicts directly to show the kids their parents are still a team despite the divorce.
Going through a divorce is normally difficult on the entire family. Although co-parenting in New Jersey can be tough, it is generally in the best interests of a former couple’s children. By working together as a team, divorced parents can establish new routines and work to ensure a positive result.
For quality legal assistance with your divorce or child custody questions, do not hesitate to call the veteran New Jersey family law attorneys at Goldstein Law Group today at 732-967-6777 or contact our seasoned attorneys online.
Additional Resources:
Make Co-parenting Easy with Parental Control for Smartphones!, by Clinton Hesler, thewestsidestory.net
More Blog Posts:
The Use of Medical and Mental Health Records in a New Jersey Child Custody Case, June 28, 2015, New Jersey Divorce Lawyers Blog
Understanding Your Rights Under the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, June 27, 2015, New Jersey Divorce Lawyers Blog