A divorce or separation can create a lot of stress for everyone involved, and if children are a part of the picture, it is not an easy task to keep it together in front of them through the process. For that reason, it can be a relief when the divorce or end of the relationship is final. When that time comes, though, another challenge awaits—the challenge of co-parenting.
While it may seem hard to realize at the time, co-parenting does not have to be difficult or stressful. One way to avoid the complexities of co-parenting is by communicating up front about how things will be handled. Once ground rules are in place, it can make each parent feel more comfortable about the arrangement. To help someone in this situation think through what topics they should discuss with their ex up front, we have included some ideas below:
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