Parents who are divorcing know that their children will be impacted by their split. What they might not realize is that the way they communicate with each other can have a direct effect on how the children fare with the divorce.
When you’re co-parenting, respectful and healthy communication is key. This shows the children that you and your ex are still able to come together for them. It also sets a good example of being able to communicate with someone even if you don’t always agree with them.
How can you overcome the challenges of communication in co-parenting?
It isn’t always easy to talk to your ex, especially if you don’t agree with each other. This is where being able to use healthy tactics is important. It might be beneficial for you and your ex to treat speaking to each other as more of a business matter instead of a personal one. By taking the emotions out of the situation, you might be able to remain a bit calmer.
At no point should you expect the children to relay messages. Children shouldn’t ever be put in the middle of these matters. When you ask them to relay messages, they may feel as though you’re having them choose sides. Further, they might be the target of an undesirable reaction when they do give a parent the message from the other parent. Beyond that, there’s a chance that the information will be given incorrectly.
Ideally, you’ll include your communication methods in the parenting plan. This can help to take the guesswork out of how to handle disputes and other issues that come up while you’re co-parenting.