In the aftermath of a divorce involving children, joint custody presents unique challenges for you and your spouse. While the circumstances of your situation have changed, you still want to keep the best interests of your children in mind. That usually means sharing parenting responsibilities with your ex. While you and your former spouse have your issues, sharing child custody means you have to present a united front and help raise your children as best you can. 

While your marriage may have failed, that doesn’t necessarily mean the parenting relationship can’t succeed. It’s an emotionally fraught territory where you have to navigate the day-to-day interests of the child without causing too much upheaval in their life. As parents share custody, finding ways to bridge the gap between parenting styles and making parenting after divorce a more manageable proposition.

Disrupting your child’s routine with a divorce can create an unstable environment in which to grow up. Your children do not necessarily have a clear model of what a healthy relationship looks like, which may negatively affect their interpersonal development. A healthy co-parenting plan devised under the supervision of your divorce lawyers in Gloucester County, NJ, and other professionals can help keep your child’s needs and overall development moving in the right direction. 

When it comes to your co-parenting relationship, you need to address the lingering hurt feelings associated with your divorce. Whether it was an amicable or contentious divorce, there are deep feelings of hurt, remorse, anger, and more that can complicate your co-parenting arrangement. Finding ways to take the time for yourself to heal from the heartbreak will help make for a stronger joint custody parenting partnership. 

While you have shared custody and parenting time rights, the circumstances of your relationship have changed. Setting clear boundaries in your new reality will help create a healthy environment for everyone involved. 

Even though the divorce has gone through the family court and you no longer live together, your former spouse is still your family. Your child keeps you united in some fashion, and the best way to ensure you have a successful co-parenting situation is to present a united front for the benefit of your child’s upbringing. 

Whether it’s with your former spouse or your child, effective communication helps make the most of a difficult situation. Explaining the details of the new living situation with your children can prove a difficult conversation to have; however, if you navigate these conversations clearly and with no ill-will toward your ex, you can help make the transition to the new normal as smooth as possible. 

Sometimes in the aftermath of a divorce, one parent may want a fresh start in a new city, but still maintain a co-parenting situation. Technological advances with video calling apps like Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime make remaining a steady presence in your child’s life easier. It can allow them a way to stay present in their daily routines, whether it’s a reassuring voice at bedtime or a Zoom homework session. 

Co-parenting can prove a challenge for couples who don’t have a clear plan to make it work. However, with the help of experienced family law attorneys like those at Berg & Pearson, P.C., you can begin to establish what your co-parenting situation will look like. Contact our team for your first consultation today!