It’s hard to believe that school is about
to begin in Ohio. The start of school also means the start of after school and
weekend activities. This time of year can be particularly stressful for parents
who are going through, or have recently gone through, a divorce, as the family
adjusts to visitation with the kids’ new, and likely busier, schedules.
Getting a child back to school is hard
enough, but if you are co-parenting with your ex for the first time it can be
even harder. Here are some tips from the Huffington Post for how to make navigating back to
school more comfortable for both parents and, more importantly, the child.
The all-important backpack - If it is the first year the child is
going through a co-parenting situation they may feel like they don’t have their
own space. Moving from one house to another can leave them feeling insecure.
Their backpack can be the one place that is theirs. Help them customize it, and
assure them no matter where they go they can have it with them and whatever
they chose to keep inside. This will offer some security and consistency
in a changed setting.
Encourage your kids to keep it simple - Your child may not know how to explain
their new situation to their friends. They may not feel it’s “normal” and they
may have some degree of anxiety when families are brought up. Sit
down and talk to your child, encourage them to keep it simple when explaining
things to their friends and that it’s okay that they live with mom some days
and dad others.
Be involved with homework - Helping your children with homework is
a great opportunity for a parent. It can help you bond, and give you an
opportunity to teach lessons beyond spelling. Even if you are the
non-custodial parent try to see if there’s a way to stay involved in your
children’s schoolwork and ask them if there is anything you can help them with
when you are able.
Communicate directly with your ex – Do not use your child as a messenger
to your former spouse. Not only can kids forget important details
that may not be of interest to them, but it also puts them in an odd situation.
E-mail can be a great medium for this, it avoids awkward phone calls,
gives you time to edit yourself and provides a written record that no one can
later claim that they didn’t know.
Don’t turn your child’s world into a
battleground - Don’t
have hand-offs at school if you know you are prone to get into a fight with
your ex. Avoid making school functions stressful and uncomfortable for the
child if they want both parents there. Reassuring your child that they can
still have both parents involved and sticking to your word by not creating an
uncomfortable atmosphere will go a long way to easing your child’s worries.
If you find yourself facing the prospect
of divorce, contact an experienced Ohio family law attorney who can help guide you through the
difficult process. Count on the expertise of Twinsburg family law attorney Carol
L. Gasper.
Source:
“Divorce
Advice: Back-To-School Tips For Divorced Parents,”
published at HuffingtonPost.com.
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