Divorce is sometimes the better alternative to staying in a hostile and painful relationship. As stated by Healthline, sometimes divorce does not end your communication with your former spouse. When you have children, you still need to retain some form of a relationship with your child’s other parent.
Parallel parenting is a parenting method that allows you to have less interaction with your former spouse while still putting your kids’ needs first.
How to communicate with your former spouse
In parallel parenting, you may want to communicate digitally. When you talk through text or e-mail, you have more time to think about your responses and less of a chance of arguing. You should have precise pickup and drop-off times as well as locations to pick and drop your children off. Keep all areas neutral. The more you plan, the less likely you are to have misunderstandings or a need for talking with your ex.
How to handle disputes and disagreements
If communication between you and your ex broke down during the marriage, you probably expect to have disagreements still — plan for differences. Consider how you plan to handle a dispute without arguing. For example, plan to seek a mediator to address conflicts before they happen.
All parenting plans should include how to handle any visitation cancellations. For example, if you or your children’s other parent has a medical emergency or work trip, figure out how to make up the lost time. For instance, one parent may have an extra day with the kids.
Parallel parenting helps limit your children’s exposure to hostility. You can work together as parents with limited communication.
