When you think of co-parenting, you also likely think of working together at a close distance with your co-parent to raise your child jointly.
Unfortunately, life does not always afford such opportunities. It may move you away from your co-parent for various reasons and lengths of time. How do you continue to co-parent together even in these tough situations?
Maintaining Healthy Communication
Onward discusses ways of co-parenting successfully even if you cannot stay in your co-parent’s vicinity. The most important thing between co-parents is to maintain strong communication. If the communication breaks down, it is much harder to keep things going for your children.
To that end, try to speak openly about any problems that crop up while you are away. If anything causes strife, you should discuss it quickly and work out solutions just as fast. Try to set a schedule of communication that keeps your co-parent in mind, too.
Minding Your Child’s Comfort
Of course, it is also important to keep your child in mind when setting your communication schedule. How much contact do they need or want? Some may want more frequent contact, while others may prefer their space lest they begin to feel smothered.
Focus on the quality of time spent together rather than the quantity of it, too. Needless to say, you will not get to spend as much time with your kids as you want while you are at a physical distance from them. But you can work to ensure every conversation you do have holds meaning and importance, and helps to build and strengthen ties between you and your children.