Being a parent is a big responsibility; what more for a single parent or those who have separated.
Raising a child alone is hard, and while it is satisfying, it can also be draining. It needs almost all of you, your energy, time, etc.
According to Gingerbread, parental responsibility is the legal rights, duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority a parent has for a child and the child's property. A person entitled to parental responsibility has the right to make decisions about care and upbringing. Essential decisions in a child's life must be agreed upon by anyone with parental responsibility.
In the case of co-parenting, the needs of the kid must be prioritized first, and any feelings of former lovers must not be included in any way as it will bring stress to the child and allow them to feel uncomfortable and unsafe.
How does co-parenting work?
According to Men's & Father's Rights, co-parenting is a post-divorce arrangement in which both parents pursue to participate in their children's upbringing and activities cooperatively. Such involves an amount of interaction between the parents, both in public and private.
This will only work if both spouses are fully committed to maintaining civility and set aside any differences for the children's sake.
When a couple decides to divorce or to separate and co-parent, they must first build a co-parenting plan as part of the divorce process. This co-parenting plan helps ensure that the couple is on the same page to co-parent effectively and address issues such as healthcare decision-making and extracurricular transportation so that conflicts are minimal. Take note that co-parenting is not for everyone, but if it works, it can surely help children and parents cope with life even after the separation.
Creating an effective co-parenting communication plan
Co-parenting or having both parents play an active and vital role in their children's daily lives is the best way to ensure that all of your kid's necessities are met and enable them to maintain intimate relationships with both parents.
A co-parenting plan should address:
- Visitation schedule
- Education
- Finances/Funds
- Child's medical needs or concerns
- Holidays and special events
- Guidelines for decision making
This plan must have a backup in case there are unexpected circumstances. Former couples must agree on changes if something happens due to personal reasons or any reasons that would somehow change the plan.
Modamily stated that both partners should have quality time with their kids. As they play an important role in children's lives, both need to spend quality time with the kids and maintain the connection.
Even though the houses are now divided into two, children need consistency, so the same rules must be implemented for kids to feel secure and less stressed.
When former parents cannot agree on some matter, they should try to find a solution as much as possible, a solution they will not regret and can live with.