Child custody and visitation are usually essential topics during divorce. They could also involve sensitive family issues, especially if the parents have conflicting opinions or beliefs concerning their child’s upbringing after finalizing the divorce. These disagreements could reflect on their co-parenting relationship, impacting their arrangement overall.
Fortunately, there are ways to address these scenarios to help parties exercise their parental rights without harming their child. When making a parenting plan, they can incorporate strategies to help mitigate disputes and conflicts between parents, such as parallel parenting. This approach involves practices that minimize communication between parents, including the following and their associated benefits:
- Little to no interaction between parents — This practice can reduce potentially aggressive exchanges, including those visible to the child.
- The parent’s independence when making decisions — Since the parent present with the child is fully responsible, they can decide immediately and autonomously without unnecessarily contacting the other parent.
- Pre-planned schedules, communication channels, and other guidelines — Establishing these details can help make the child’s drop-offs and pick-ups go smoothly.
This setup seems preferable, but the final arrangement still depends on what is appropriate according to the situation. Visitation schedules and parenting plan details can vary based on the family’s and the child’s needs, which may also change over time.
Incorporating parallel parenting practices
When finalizing an arrangement, the parents can incorporate their preferences in a parenting plan, but doing so could pose specific challenges if the parties are not on good terms. However, integrating parallel parenting practices can be beneficial to reduce conflicts in the long run and accommodate the family’s unique circumstances. In these instances, seeking legal counsel can be helpful, allowing parents to determine appropriate, legally sound options to prioritize the child’s best interests.