When divorce turns into a high-conflict family issue, child custody negotiations and what happens afterward can get tense.
Child custody attorneys recognize that sometimes these cases end in situations where ex-spouses are unable to co-parent amicably in spite of their attempts to do so.
In these circumstances, one way to make adhering to child custody agreements without all the conflict is parallel parenting.
What Is Parallel Parenting?
Parallel parenting is a method of co-parenting that can help in situations where ex-spouses have difficulty remaining civil to each other.
It is a solution that child custody attorneys may recommend at the start when it is obvious that ex-spouses cannot see eye-to-eye on how to work together in co-parenting or even later on if problems arise.
By introducing a mediator as a third party to facilitate communication and negotiations between the parents, arguing and lack of civility can be greatly reduced or even eliminated.
Ex-spouses will stay in contact only by email or verbally through the mediator so there is no reason for them to speak directly with each other or see each other.
In addition to using the mediator for making important decisions for the children and finding ways to follow the custody agreement, parallel parenting also involves keeping households completely separate.
This can mean children have clothing and other necessities at each house, parents give separate birthday parties, as well as other similar situation and the parents do not participate together in any of their child’s activities or occasions.
Who Should Use Parallel Parenting?
Civil co-parenting requires that both individuals compromise during custody negotiations and then uphold any agreement, putting any animosity toward each other aside for the benefit of the children.
Parents who cannot do this and allow negativity to interfere with their co-parenting and adherence to child custody agreements should consider parallel parenting to reduce friction and contact between the two different households.
Although it may not be ideal, it is a useful solution that can keep ex-spouses from repeatedly fighting, breaching parenting agreements, and going back to court for modifications to custody orders.
Why Use Parallel Parenting?
Ultimately, the reason why child custody attorneys recommend parallel parenting in some instances is that it is a way for parents to continue to co-parent in a less volatile way.
Co-parenting must always be about what is best for the children and a stressful home situation due to animosity between parents is anything but that.
When parents cannot remember this and the fighting ensues anyway, doing everything through a mediator is beneficial for everyone.
Solve Child Custody Agreement Issues With Parallel Parenting
Co-parenting is not always easy, but it is the best option for raising happy, healthy children even in situations of divorce.
When following child custody agreements becomes a challenge due to negativity between ex-spouses, child custody attorneys may recommend parallel parenting as a viable solution.
Using a mediator to aid with ongoing child custody negotiations, ex-spouses can co-parent successfully by maintaining two completely separate households and reducing contact with each other.
If polite co-parenting has become a problem for your split family, discuss the idea of co-parenting as a possible solution with your attorney.
