Tips on Successfully Co-Parenting

Parenting is a challenging but rewarding endeavor, and successful co-parenting comes with an additional set of challenges. There are, however, several tips that can help you and your children’s other parent master the intricacies of co-parenting while continuing to support your children’s best interests. If you have questions or concerns about your child custody orders or an impending child custody case, it is time to consult with an experienced Minnesota child custody attorney. 

Tip 1: Get Your Bearings

Co-parenting is a bit different than parenting together as a couple who lives under the same roof, but your goals remain the same – lovingly caring and providing for your children while making the kind of primary parenting decisions that allow them to lead enriching lives. Once you establish that you share these goals, it can help smooth the path forward toward successful co-parenting. 

Tip 2: Stick to the Schedule

You have a court-ordered parenting time schedule that determines when the children are with you and when they are with their other parent. Sticking to this schedule as closely as possible comes with all the following benefits:

• It takes the guesswork out of the equation.
• You and your ex know exactly when and where you are supposed to be in terms of picking up and dropping off the kids.
• It affords the children a greater sense of security by minimizing uncertainty.

Tip 3: Have a Backup Plan

No matter how carefully you and your ex follow your parenting plan, there will be times when doing so is impossible, which makes having a backup plan in place critical. This may mean having a trusted family member on call or stepping in for one another when scheduling complications arise. Having a plan in place and keeping one another abreast of scheduling glitches as they arise helps to ensure that your co-parenting efforts will not be derailed by inevitable scheduling hiccups along the way. 

Tip 4: Recognize that You May Require a Modification

If you find that your co-parenting is riddled with scheduling snafus, a child custody modification may be in order. Minnesota courts recognize that, as children grow up and schedules evolve, parenting time modifications are sometimes necessary. Because your child custody orders remain enforceable until they are changed by the court, obtaining a modification through the court is always in your best interest. 

Tip 5: Keep Your Interactions as Amicable as Possible

You and your ex do not have to be best friends – or even friendly – to be effective co-parents. You do, however, need to keep any animosity between you appropriately in check in order to do right by your children. At a minimum, this means treating one another civilly – especially when the children are around.  

Consult with an Experienced Minnesota Child Custody Attorney Today

The compassionate child custody attorneys at Atticus Family Law are well-positioned to help you successfully tackle your co-parenting concerns and welcome you to reach out and contact us for more information today.