As the new school year starts, co-parents have to decide how to navigate it. They certainly want to put their children first, but this can be a very complex time as schedules change.
Fortunately, there are some things that co-parents can do to make this process go a bit more smoothly. Below are a few tips that can help during this season of life.
Plan in advance
First and foremost, it is important to do as much planning in advance as you can. What should the pick-up and drop-off schedule look like? What are you going to do about breaks, such as the holidays? Do you need to discuss things like after-school care or who goes on field trips?
Be open to coordination
For co-parents, it’s best if they are open to working together. This can be difficult, but it is helpful just to remind yourself that your goal is to put your children first. If you and your co-parent are both focused on your children’s best interests, coordination comes more easily.
Consider what events you need to share
Co-parents are often focused on dividing things up, such as dividing the transportation schedule for the children. But there are also going to be some events that the two of you may want to share, such as a child’s graduation, sporting events, extracurricular activities and clubs, and much more. It often helps to discuss these things in advance to determine how you’re going to address them in the moment.
Overall, parents simply need to focus on being flexible, communicating effectively and putting their children first. As you and your ex go through this process, be sure you also understand your parental rights under the court order.