Tips for Parallel Parenting After a High-Conflict Divorce

If you recently navigated an emotionally taxing high-conflict divorce, you and your former spouse may not be able to ease into an effective co-parenting arrangement. Instead, parallel parenting may be a better fit for you since it will allow the two of you to maintain distance and reduce the potential for conflict while raising your children. Continue reading for some tips on how to make parallel parenting work.

How to Effectively Parallel Parent

Parallel parenting is designed to minimize contact between parents to avoid the potential for conflict. Generally, with this arrangement, co-parents will only reach out to one another for emergencies and all correspondence must be child focused.

Here are some tips that can help you effectively parallel parent:

All communication should have a respectful, business-like tone. Communication should also be brief.
If an emergency arises, parents may reach out to one another. Otherwise, it is best to stick to a schedule to address any child-related matters that need attention.
For matters that are not an emergency, it is best to use email to communicate and to limit the amount you write in your letter.
If there are child-related matters you disagree on, seek the assistance of a neutral third party, such as a mediator.
Your respective households will operate independently.
When transferring the children between households, do so at a neutral location, such as a library or school.
Split up child-related events, so you do not have to run into each other while you are trying to maintain focus on your kids.

You should also have the details of this parenting arrangement laid out in writing. Once the dust settles and your respective wounds heal, you may be ready to transition from parallel parenting to co-parenting.

Discuss the Details of Your Family Law Case with One of Our Knowledgeable Attorneys Today!

At the Law Firm of Johnson & Gaskill PLLC, our experienced family law team has the insight, skill, and knowledge to help you navigate your case. We understand how close to home these matters often hit for our clients, which is why we are committed to providing strong legal support and compassionate advice. With our team on your side, you can rest assured you will receive the best possible outcome for your case.

Reach out to our law firm today at (832) 210-1698 to set up a consultation with one of our attorneys to get started on your family law case and learn more about the services we offer!