Mothers and fathers need to have a relationship that promotes and provides a strong foundation for children, and that means that both need to work together in parenting as a team. A collaborative relationship helps reduce children’s stress and provides comfort and security. Co-parenting also helps balance each parent’s responsibilities as there is another person to delegate to and make decisions with. So it also helps to reduce stress.
The bond between mother and father is the first example a child receives of what a relationship is about and what it should be like. That is why it is so important for children to learn what a positive, productive, and respectful relationship is, regardless of the couple’s situation.
Shared parenting offers families the advantages of both parents building relationships with their children, encourages healthy child development, and creates a platform for parents to collaborate in their efforts for their children’s well-being.
Sharing that burden influences the family’s emotional well-being and is critical to keeping relationships from falling apart. As The Parenting Index notes, when the responsibility for parenting falls primarily on one parent, indices of happiness and physical and mental health plummet by an average of 23 points compared to those who experience shared parenting. However, when the other parent is equally involved, the benefits are manifold, and parenting takes on a different, more positive aspect that impacts both parents and children.
If the intimate relationship between the parents has ended, regular contact between the children and each parent helps to reduce feelings of loss on all sides. Just because the relationship has ended does not mean that being a family has also ended. For communication between separated parents, it is very important to find a neutral ground for communication. Such as an online or telephone platform can help to isolate potentially conflictual conversations to a place where children cannot observe them.
Here are some tips for a shared parenting relationship:
Make a co-parenting agreement
Sit down and decide together what are the most important aspects of raising your child. Then try to reach an agreement. This can avoid arguments in the future. You can discuss important issues such as child care, school, health care financing and religion. In addition, it is important that you also argue and agree on parenting strategies (discipline, bedtime, expectations, etc.), parenting schedules, and who is in charge of which tasks.
Don’t dispute in front of your child.
If you want your child to grow up feeling secure and confident, it is important that you do not dispute in front of them. Children will quickly learn that they can belittle one parent in front of the other if they see you doing it, which will only lead to problems in the future. You and your partner must take time to talk alone about the child’s issues, including decisions that need to be discussed and made together.
In conclusion, the well-being of the children should always be paramount when making parenting decisions – this is essential for co-parenting to work. Parenting is a great challenge if it is shared, it is much lighter and more positive for all family members.
Sources:
https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/blog/benefits-shared-parenting
https://ethic.es/2022/05/compartir-para-cuidarnos-mejor-crianza-compartida/
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