Sharing custody of the children after a Kentucky couple breaks up can be challenging to the parents, but, if done well, can be very beneficial to the children. Successful shared parenting takes patience, commitment and a willingness to compromise.
The children’s needs come first
While it might be hard for parents who have gone through a divorce to continue interacting, to make shared parenting work the children’s needs must come first. Focusing this new stage of the relationship solely on the upbringing of the children and ensuring that it results in happy, healthy, stable children can be difficult when the parents do not wish to even speak to each other. However, if parents are committed to helping their children, they will find ways to work through their feelings so that they can focus on meeting their children’s needs.
Communication is the key to success
To make shared parenting successful, divorced parents might need to learn how to communicate effectively. Effective communication includes a variety of factors, such as:
- Honesty
- Respect
- Limits
- Consistency
The focus of the communication between the parents after divorce should solely be on their children. Setting limits on the topics to be discussed can help parents prevent unnecessary conflicts. Parents should also be willing to listen to each other, even if they do not agree, and to negotiate, understanding that effective communication also includes compromise.
A united front shows the children you are still a family
Even if the children are splitting their time between two homes, parents can show the children that they are all still one family. One way to do this is by having similar rules, routines, chores and consequences in both homes. Another way is to make major decisions about the children together.
Even though it is challenging, the benefits of shared parenting are worth the effort. Shared parenting can help you raise well-adjusted, calm, happy children.