A healthy co-parenting relationship can be challenging in Wisconsin or anywhere else. Still, children benefit when parents can get along and provide consistent parenting.
Accentuate the positive
In some cases, it might be more helpful to celebrate the small victories in the relationship. Emphasizing your progress can help motivate you to keep that healthy relationship going and prevent it from degenerating into something more toxic. Focusing on the positive side of the arrangement might make it easier to work through the parts that aren’t going as well.
Effective co-parenting involves healthy boundaries and clear communication. You must know what you’re comfortable with. It’s also important to understand what you do and do not have control over.
Make a plan, and plan to be flexible
Successful co-parents often set up their schedules ahead of time. It’s a good idea to be as specific as possible and think about particular dates and times that you want to keep available. A well-planned schedule helps to avoid unpleasant surprises when you don’t have time to deal with them. Your shared calendar can keep things from sneaking up on either of you, and it helps to avoid endless negotiations on the spot that lead to more tension.
Flexibility is also essential after a divorce. Both parents should be willing to go with the flow when necessary. It’s natural for every co-parenting setup to involve some give and take, so each parent must occasionally accommodate the other’s needs.
There’s also a great deal that can be revealed by what the kids think of your relationship. Children can often intuit whether there are problems or whether there is peace between the two of you. And the example you set in your co-parenting relationship can have a powerful impact on your children as they grow up.