The divorce process can often feel complex and frustrating, especially when you have children. In addition to dividing up your assets, you also need to negotiate how you will continue to care for your children.
It can take weeks or months to get through the divorce process, depending on your situation. This can be challenging when you have little or no guidelines for issues like child custody and co-parenting.
Here are a few things to consider while you are parenting with a pending divorce.
Getting a temporary agreement
In an ideal situation, you and your spouse can work out a temporary custody agreement on your own while your divorce is pending. However, if you cannot agree or are continuing to have custody disputes, you may need to seek help through mediation or, in higher-conflict cases, litigation.
In most situations, these temporary agreements are intended to have some flexibility. Coparenting will be new to you, your ex and your children, so it can take some time to figure out what is practical and beneficial for everyone involved.
Supporting a new normal
As you bridge the gap between your separation and divorce, there will be a lot of emotions, both from you and your children. This will be an important time to be able to support your children as they learn how to cope with the new situation.
When you offer support, consider how your children typically process new circumstances. It may help to frame coping mechanisms from another situation to help them learn how to deal with the changes that come with going through a divorce.
While you and your ex both want the best for your children, determining what that looks like from a co-parenting perspective can be complex. As you navigate this challenging time, it will be essential to seek help from a skilled professional.