Many co-parents in Virginia feel like they are navigating completely new waters when they try to raise children after a divorce. In addition to dealing with their own pain, they must also try to help their children. The following tips have helped some co-parents as they cope with and adjust to their new circumstances.
Using children as messengers can be damaging to the children and can lead to messages being relayed in correctly. It is more beneficial when co-parents communicate with each other directly in a respectful manner. If it is difficult to keep the peace, using text messages or emails can be helpful.
While there may have been major differences that caused the divorce, working to be united when it comes to parenting is important for the well-being of the children. The goal should be to maintain consistency in the lives of the children. This can be accomplished when co-parents decide on discipline methods, family rules and daily schedules that will be maintained in both homes. This helps children feel secure and leads to them developing in a healthy way both mentally and physically.
When no harm is done, being flexible as far as visitation schedules are concerned can be beneficial for the children. It may allow the children to engage in activities that they would enjoy. Of course, sticking with the schedule as much as possible will help the children feel secure.
Many co-parents have been successful when using these strategies. However, there are situations where one co-parent constantly fails to stick to a parenting plan or gives the other parent reason to feel like having sole custody would be in the best interests of the children. In this situation, a person may want to speak with an attorney. The attorney may be able to answer questions about child custody modification or even represent a client in court.
