If you and your former spouse have children, you still need to remain in
each other’s lives as co-parents. However, sometimes the divorce
process can severely impact this relationship and make it difficult to
work as a team. For the benefit of your children, it is crucial to do
what you can to repair and rebuild trust with your co-parent. It might
sound impossible now, but if both parties put in an honest effort, it
can be achieved.
Tips to Rebuild a Co-Parenting Relationship
Rebuilding a co-parenting relationship will take time and a willingness
to cooperate, so both you and your former spouse need to be committed
to this mutual goal.
Here are some tips that will help you accomplish the task:
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Keep your word: If you made plans to spend time with your children or promised you would
pick them up at a specific time, keep your word. If you continue to break
your promises, you cannot expect your co-parent to trust you. Moreover,
broken promises will send the wrong message to your children.
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Consider your co-parent’s feelings: When it comes to co-parenting, it can be easy for one parent to feel left
out if there is a lack of flexibility in scheduling. Always let your co-parent
know about school functions and, if possible, attend your children’s
events together, so no one misses out. Your children will appreciate having
the support of both parents.
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Exhibit consistent behavior: If you are consistently respectful and polite toward your ex-spouse, it
will help build up some trust in your relationship. No matter how difficult
the situation might seem, you cannot let your emotions dictate your actions.
Emotions and feelings are unpredictable, which is not the tone you want
to set for your co-parenting relationship.
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Listen to your co-parent: Being a good listener does not mean you are expected to agree with your
co-parent. You might still ultimately disagree on certain matters, but
you will at least have a better understanding of one another, which will
make it easier to reach a mutually agreeable compromise.
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Be willing to say you are sorry: Apologizing can be difficult in any relationship, but it is particularly
tough for divorced spouses who might still feel resentful toward one another.
However, apologizing for your mistakes is a big step in the right direction
if you want to work on a functional and healthy co-parenting relationship.
Speak to an Experienced Family Law Attorney
If you are experiencing difficulties with your co-parenting relationship
and believe you need legal assistance to effectively address them, contact
the Houston
family lawyers at the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny for the sound legal advice you need
during this challenging time. With over three decades of combined legal
experience on our side, you can trust that your case will be effectively
handled when you choose to work with our law firm.
Reach out to our law office today at (713) 936-2300 to schedule an initial case
review with a compassionate and knowledgeable member of our legal team.
You do not have to go through this on your own.