Trying to handle your separation from your partner and co-parenting for the first time can be difficult and can leave you struggling. If you are not managing to cope effectively with both and are finding it hard to separate the two, read on for some top tips on how to successfully manage both your separation and co-parenting your children with your ex.
Get Professional Advice
Rather than trying to handle this life change on your own, you should try to get as much professional advice as possible. To do this, you should consider looking for services that provide co-parenting advice, strategy sessions, and counselling, such as Two Healthy Homes. These services can allow you to gain a more positive perspective on your separation and can set you up to be a successful co-parent for your kids. Not only this, but these services can help you to deal emotionally with the changes in your life and ensure that your mental health does not suffer. They will also aid you in creating a workable relationship with your now ex so that you are both on the same page and can communicate effectively while looking after your children.
Prioritize Your Children
Even if you are finding it hard to cope with the breakdown of your relationship, it is vital that you prioritize your children. Otherwise, you might find that your actions have a detrimental impact on them and that their mental health suffers. You may also find that you are not there for them as much as you need to be, and that this means that your relationship suffers in the long run. So, no matter how you feel about your ex, you should put this aside when it comes time to co-parent, and you should always make sure that your children are not used as pawns or are not trapped within your conflict. You should also check in with them regularly and discuss how they are feeling about events and avoid talking negatively about your ex in front of them.
Handle Your Emotions
To manage your separation and co-parenting role successfully, you need to handle your emotions and gain control of them. You can do this by acknowledging and accepting your emotions and giving yourself the time that you need to grieve. However, when you are with your kids, you need to make sure that you restrain these emotions and use healthy coping mechanisms, such as journaling and meditation. For those who find it hard to handle their emotions and whose mental health is declining, counselling might be a great solution that can ensure that your emotions do not end up ruling you.
Separating from your partner can be difficult, especially when there are kids involved. However, by separating your role as a parent with your divorce and by putting effort into being there for your kids and juggling the different elements of your life, you will soon be able to manage both your separation and co-parenting well.