Obviously, one of the biggest draws of co-parenting is the ability for both parents to spend time together with their children even after a divorce.
But sometimes, life gets complicated in unexpected ways. If one parent cannot remain close to their child or co-parent for a period of time, is co-parenting still possible?
Prevent breakdown of communication
Onward discusses ways to co-parent even while at a distance. Fortunately, it is still entirely possible and many families make their long-distance schedules work for them every year. After all, a plethora of reasons could lead to this separation, such as a parent serving in the military or needing to take care of an aging, injured or sick relative.
The number one thing is to keep up communication between co-parents. Breakdown of this crucial communication could make it much harder for the distant co-parent to make meaningful contact with their children, and it could damage the entire family dynamic.
Maximizing the quality of time spent together
After that, focus on quality over quantity. Needless to say, it will be hard for the distanced co-parent to meet with their child often, and they will certainly not see their child as often as the custodial parent. Because of this, it is more important to make every moment count.
A parent can maximize the quality of their time with their child in numerous ways. One is to have a genuine investment in their life. Remember what is happening, who their friends are, what they seem excited about, what they feel nervous about and so on. Ask questions, get involved – but remember to stay involved to the level your child feels comfortable with, as some may prefer more or less contact than others. This is the best way to ensure your child also gets the most out of every chat.