Even though a divorce means parting ways with your spouse, you may always be intrinsically tied to them. This is the case if you share a child. And this is especially the case if you were ordered to joint custody. With this, you may have no other choice but to learn how to effectively co-parent with your former spouse. Continue reading to learn how to deal with co-parenting after a divorce and how an experienced Bergen County divorce attorney at McNerney & McAuliffe can offer you sound advice.
How can I best handle co-parenting after my divorce?
The aftermath of your divorce can take a toll on your child. So you will want to keep your child’s life as similar as possible to what they grew accustomed to when you and your former spouse were still married. This means that you and your former spouse will have to work together to create a similar parenting style across both households. Examples of this are as follows:
- You and your former spouse must establish a similar disciplinary tactic for when your child misbehaves.
- You and your former spouse must establish a similar nighttime routine for when your child goes to bed.
- You and your former spouse must establish a similar diet for when your child eats dinner or snacks.
- You and your former spouse must establish a similar regime for when your child does homework or studies.
- You and your former spouse must establish a similar timeframe for electronic usage and TV watching.
With all that being said, you may rest assured knowing that your child will thrive in this structured environment.
What are other tips I should follow?
As long as you and your former spouse are on the same page about putting your child’s best interest before all else, the rest should fall into place. Without further ado, below are additional tips to follow to achieve an effective co-parenting relationship:
- Do not speak poorly about your former spouse in the presence of your child.
- Do not let your emotions get in the way when you need to communicate with your former spouse about your child.
- Do not make your child feel the need to “pick a side” when you disagree with your former spouse.
- Do not complain in the presence of your child when having to drop them off at your former spouse’s house for parenting time.
- Do not be late or argue with your former spouse when dropping your child off for parenting time.
- Do not negotiate a new parenting schedule without an attorney or a trusted third party.
Regardless of what your specific circumstances may be, you must not second-guess your instinct to retain the services of a skilled Bergen County family law attorney from McNerney & McAuliffe. Schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.
