Divorce is often challenging, and it’s not unusual that there will be times that it will become contentious. While divorcing parents want to do what’s best for their children, getting past the hurt and anger is sometimes difficult.
Parallel parenting may be helpful in managing custody arrangements and situations where communication between parents is strained.
How is parallel parenting different from co-parenting?
In co-parenting arrangements, both parents work together to raise their children and maintain communication about decisions related to the kids.
In a parallel parenting plan, each parent has their own set of rules and expectations for raising the children. This means that while the parents may not agree on every aspect of parenting, they can still provide a consistent and supportive environment for their children. The plan also outlines pick-up times, locations, and schedules so that there is minimal contact between the parents.
Parallel parenting is a strategy that can be beneficial for families going through a high-conflict divorce or separation. It allows both parents to remain involved in their children’s lives without engaging in frequent communication with each other. Parallel parenting can be ideal when there is intense conflict between the two parents, when one parent has a history of domestic violence, or when one parent is struggling with addiction.
While parallel parenting may be necessary in the short term to protect the children from ongoing conflict and hostility, it should not replace traditional co-parenting arrangements.
If you’re considering parallel parenting as an option for your family, it’s essential to take some time to think through all of your options and make sure it’s right for you. You will want to work with someone who can help you create an appropriate plan that will benefit all parties involved.
