The challenges of co-parenting sometimes take a toll on the relationship between the parent and the co-parent, most especially if the co-parent happens to be your own mother. Gathered from testimonies of moms who opted for co-parenting with their own mothers, here's how you can face the challenge head on and with a smile on your face at the end of each day.
Never forget to be thankful.
Yes, co-parenting may not be your first choice, but when you are in a situation where you would need somebody to watch your baby while you earn, you would need a co-parent. It's either you leave your baby at the daycare or get your mom, your own flesh and blood, to look after her own grandchild.
Think of all the advantages of having your mother as a co-parent and you will be glad you did. At the same time, try to imagine your child at the daycare where strangers would look after your child. You won't even know whether your child would get the proper care and attention.
At the end of the day, when you come back from work and find your baby or toddler happily smiling, don't forget to be thankful that your mom was there during your absence. Remember, taking care of a child is harder than doing chores and you mom willingly made the sacrifice.
Just like what's stated in Romper, having your mom as the co-parent can be uncomfortable, frustrating and joyful. Yet, more than all this, you just have to be thankful that your mother is there for you and your child.
Communication and compromise never fail.
According to an article in Parenting, one way to deal with the challenges of co-parenting is to adhere to the two C's—communication and compromise. Never allow a day to end without you and your mom talking about things you have disagreed about during the day. Although you and your mom have similar genes, you will not always have the same parenting outlook, and disagreements will always arise. When this happens, don't shut her out. Communicate.
After you have heard your mom's views, and you have expressed yours, be open to a compromise. Meet halfway. If you explain your side well, and you also open your heart to hers, you can always find a common parenting ground that will be for the utmost benefit of your child.
There really is no hard and fast rule on how to face the challenge of co-parenting with your own mother. But the ones mentioned above are general rules that encompass the various challenges of co-parenting. Once you have learned them by heart, you'll find the challenge fairly simple to overcome.
