Reaching a divorce agreement usually isn’t easy. Neither is reaching a custody arrangement. Indeed, custody arrangements are usually one of the most hotly contested issues in a divorce. If you are a parent who is divorced or in the process of divorcing, you know that it will have a major impact on your child’s life. No doubt, both you and your ex have put massive amounts of thought into how best to parent your child post-divorce.
One option for you and your spouse to co-parent your child. Perhaps your relationship with your spouse is still amicable; perhaps it is contentious. In both of these situations, it may be possible to put your differences aside and work together as co-parents for the good of your family.
Defining co-parenting
Co-parenting is sometimes difficult to define, because it means different things for different couples. No two families are alike, and co-parenting may look different for your family than it does for another. Generally, though, co-parenting is a means of parenting in which divorced spouses work together so that they can both be active in their child’s daily life.
Exceptions to co-parenting
There are, however, a few exceptions to co-parenting. There are some situations in which it is just not healthy or safe for a parent to be involved in a child’s life. This can apply to particularly acrimonious divorces, or to circumstances such as:
- Child abuse
- Kidnapping
- Domestic violence
- Emotional abuse
- Addiction
- Severe mental illness
How it benefits your child
It is no secret that emotionally healthy homes are crucial for child development. Co-parenting may have several benefits for your child, such as:
- High self-esteem
- A sense of security
- Problem-solving skills
- Witnessing healthy relationships
- Mental and emotional health
- Strong social development
- Close bonds with both parents
These reasons should provide more than enough incentive to consider co-parenting with your spouse. To learn whether co-parenting is the right arrangement for you, you may wish to contact a family law attorney. In the second blog post for this series, we will go over some tips that can help you co-parent with your ex.