Co-parenting is not always an easy feat, especially if you and your ex-spouse are not on the best terms or still have lingering resentment and unresolved issues. That said, co-parenting should be about focusing on the needs of your children, so start the new year by setting goals and resolutions together that can benefit your family and improve your situation.
Here are some goals you and your co-parent can focus on to help your family start off on the right foot for the new year ahead:
- Work Together: Even if you are on good terms now, you and your co-parent should always commit to working together. Use tools to help you communicate and effectively share information as clearly as possible. Your children will benefit greatly from your collaborative efforts to raise them, which will help them succeed in the new year.
- Try Not to Sweat the Small Things: It is easy to get annoyed by the littlest things. Whether your child is being disobedient or you are having a disagreement with your co-parent, you need to know how to handle these everyday stressors in a healthy manner. One of the most helpful tips anyone can give you is to not sweat the small stuff. Exercise a little flexibility to make parenting easier and, if you find that you cannot let something go, ask yourself what might be at the root of the problem so you can address it.
- Stay Healthy: This might not seem like a co-parenting tip, but the fact is that when you stay healthy, you are better able to take on the potential challenges you might face. Focus not only on your physical health, but on your emotional health as well. You should also encourage your children to eat well, get enough rest, and to talk about their feelings.
- Teach Positive Communication Skills: Speaking of which, you and your co-parent should always be considering ways to help your children grow and help prepare them for the future. One skill that will particularly come in handy is proper communication. Help support this goal by demonstrating this to your children through your own actions. If they see their parents communicate effectively, this sets an excellent example for them to do the same.
- Have Fun: You might have had some ups and downs this year, especially if you were only recently divorced or separated, but the new year is always an opportunity for you to do better than the last. Commit yourself to having more fun in everything you do and in spending time doing things you enjoy with or without your children.
Co-Parenting Law in St. Charles
At Smith Law Offices, LLC, our St. Charles family lawyers have the knowledge and experience you need to help create an ideal co-parenting plan that puts your child’s needs first and preserves your rights and wishes. Work with a skilled attorney today to determine what kind of agreement you need and assist you in working out the terms to successfully reach it.
Contact our office today at (636) 400-1177 to schedule a consultation.