Not every marriage in Ohio and across the country endure over the long term. Some statistics suggest that an many as 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. This leads to another more disturbing statistic, that over one million children a year become children of divorce. It is now widely believed that staying together for the sake of the children is not a good idea, but how divorced parents handle parenting post-divorce can be critical to how well children deal with the new family dynamic.
Co-parenting is a term heard more and more as parents try to deal with the new reality of parenting as separate but equal partners. While custodial parent arrangements still exist in many circumstances, where one parent has physical custody and primary care responsibilities, co-parenting is on the rise as parents recognize the value and importance of remaining involved in their children’s lives. For co-parenting to be successful, the focus should be on the child or children and not on the prior relationship.
Some parents let the issues that forced them apart to interfere in their attempts to co-parent. Children can be very sensitive to situations around them. If children see their parents continuing to struggle, fight and have a contentious relationship, this can have a considerable impact on one’s self-image and self-esteem. What children observe can impact how they handle their own future relationships.
For co-parenting to be successful in Ohio, a couple should try to put themselves in their child’s shoes and view the situation from his or her perspective. Keeping the focus on what really matters after a divorce is critical. A conversation with an experienced family law attorney can help a person facing this situation to focus on what it takes to make co-parenting a successful endeavor for the whole family.