Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on how to co-parent successfully at mom’s house dad’s house. Going through a divorce or separation is never easy, especially when kids are involved. Sadly, your feelings towards each other probably aren’t good. However, finding a way to share parenting responsibilities so you that you can give your children the best childhood is imperative.
Growing up across two happy homes is undoubtedly better than growing up in an unhappy household. However, it will take a conscious and joint effort to make that happen. Focus on the following, and you won’t go far wrong.
Mom’s House Dad’s House:
Mom’s House Dad’s House Access
First, kids need to enjoy a positive relationship with both parents unless there is an extreme circumstance. Child custody can be a difficult subject to resolve, which is why you will need the right expert on your side. However, it’s important to avoid using your child as a weapon to hurt your ex. The goal of co-parenting is to find a fair solution for everyone.
The time-sharing elements will vary from one family to the next. Some children do a four-day/three-day split. Others see one parent on the weekends. There are many contributing factors ranging from geographic distances to your careers. Do what works best for the child.
Consistency at Mom’s House Dad’s House
Transitioning from one home to two is tough on a child, but they are resilient. Nonetheless, one thing they will need is a sense of stability and consistency. Otherwise, the whole process of splitting their time across two properties becomes very confusing. So, while the two households needn’t be identical, they should work together.
This can manifest itself in many ways. From implementing the same bedtime routines to giving your child the same responsibilities in both homes. Children benefit from having transparency and clarity in their lives. When co-parents work together to provide it, their behavior and development should thrive.
Comfort
If your child is going to spend their time split across two households, the key is to make them happy homes. Unfortunately, you cannot have much of an impact on your ex-spouse’s property. Therefore, it’s vital that you create a winning environment within your own property, starting with their bedroom.
Having that place to call their own can make a world of difference. At this time, especially with the changes caused by the pandemic, a winning backyard is crucial too. Whether used for burning off energy, enjoying summer BBQs, or relaxing, it can be a very useful space. Most importantly, your child needs to feel the sense of belonging.
Civility
There’s a very strong chance that you aren’t going to share a close friendship with your ex. After all, there is a reason you split up. However, co-parenting is a lot easier when you can remain civil. Even if you don’t want to see each other face-to-face, cloud computing allows you to share schedules or files. Embrace it.
Most importantly, you must always refrain from bad-mouthing the other parent. Political point scoring will only upset your child, which is the last thing any of you want to do. As your grandma used to say, if you can’t say anything nice say nothing at all. Your mission tis to create positive vibes and a good environment for your children to grow up in.
About the author: Peggy Fleming
