Sharing parenting responsibilities in a co-parenting relationship can be difficult. But it is not impossible if you are organized and willing to do it. At Copaping we give you some tips on how to share parenting responsibilities with the other person.
Use apps to organize
There are many useful apps on the market that will help you with your daily organization. Calendars will remind you of birthdays and special occasions. You can resolve visits and even track expenses and store important information. Some apps are free and some have a monthly or yearly subscription. They will help you stay up to date with your co-parent on your son or daughter's issues.
Make a coparenting agreement
Sit down and decide what are the most important aspects of raising your child. Then, try to reach an agreement between you and your co-father. This will avoid misunderstandings later. Think child care, school, healthcare financing, and religion. If you agree on these things, write it down and make an agreement that you both can refer to in the future.
Listen to each other
Listen to the other person's point of view. Try not to let emotions get in the way and communicate clearly. If you both discuss things calmly and listen to each other, there will be fewer problems in your relationship.
There must be a main decision maker
If your child lives with one parent year-round, that parent should be able to make decisions about some things without having to contact the other parent. For starters, it is much more practical. It's not good if one of the parents is in a meeting and can't talk for a couple of hours about something that she has to decide already. You can agree to talk about the big decisions, but smaller things like the child wanting to go to a party at a friend's house should be left to the primary caregiver.
Help when you are needed
You must be flexible with visiting arrangements. If the child is sick and can't go to school and you have the time to take care of him or her, offer to do so. Don't think: it's not my day. Help the other as much as you can because this is beneficial for your child.
Do not argue in front of your child
If you want your child to grow up feeling safe and confident, it's important that you don't argue in front of him. They will quickly learn that they can put one parent down in front of the other and this will only lead to problems down the road. Show your child that you are a united front.
Have time for your child
Make sure that the parent who does not live with the child finds time to communicate with the child on a regular basis. Whether it's via mobile phone, Skype or email, try to talk to your child as much as you can. If you can call him every night, even if it's just to say goodnight, your child will feel loved and respected.
It is possible to share parenting responsibilities, even when the parents live apart. It only takes a good organization and the willingness to make sure that your child has the education and care that he deserves.