Coparenting : 6 Keys to Success

Coparenting can be stressful and emotionally draining, but with the right resources, it can be achievable. This article will provide six helpful keys to successful coparenting, from understanding one another’s perspectives to seeking professional counseling if needed.

Establish reliable communication channels

Establishing reliable communication with your co-parent is essential to successful coparenting. This can include regular meetings, emails, text messaging, or family counseling sessions. It is also important to set boundaries and limits when it comes to communication and ensure that any conflicts are resolved in a healthy manner. All communication should be conducted in a respectful way, free of criticism and insults.

Respect the other person's convictions, feelings and opinions

Respect is the foundation for any successful cooperative parenting relationship. Both of you must have the same commitment to working together amicably and make sure that your comments are not offensive or hurtful. It can be a challenge to disagree without being disrespectful, but it is essential for a successful coparenting relationship. Make sure to value the other party’s opinion, respect their beliefs and feelings, even if you don’t agree with them.

Have a problem-solving attitude when disagreements arise

 
Instead of approaching an issue with a confrontational attitude, try to take a problem-solving approach. When handling disagreements between parents, it’s essential that both parties come to a compromise. Try to focus on finding common ground and understanding each other’s perspectives rather than insisting on your own viewpoint while disregarding the thoughts of your coparent. No one person is always right, so make sure you are both open to hearing each other out and finding an appropriate solution together.

Create an appropriate schedule for the children’s needs

As coparents, it is important to come up with a schedule that puts the needs of the children first. Consider their age and maturity level when deciding how much time they will spend with each parent. The schedules should also be appropriate to the parents’ lifestyles. If the parents live close in proximity, then exchanging children on days other than the weekend may be feasible for certain ages. Make sure you create a schedule together that will minimize disruption to your child’s daily routine.

Support each other in parenting decisions

Coparenting can be successful when both parents exercise an understanding that ultimately, the children’s best interests should come first. This means supporting each other in parenting decisions and agreeing not to bad-mouth the other parent. Coparenting counseling may help in this regard by helping each parent become better at communicating and discussing important issues. Supportive coparenting also involves setting clear boundaries for discipline and making sure expectations are appropriate for the age and maturity levels of the children.

Learn more about how coparenting counseling may be able to help: Support for Coparents Info