3. You and your co-parent need a plan.
No sensible person thinks of fixing a house, financing a car, or even getting a cat without a plan. Yet millions of American parents try literally stumbling through one of life's toughest challenges—raising children between two homes.
Children's needs increase dramatically when parents separate. Now that there will be some considerable physical and emotional distance between you and your co-parent, sharing information and making important parenting decisions will require that you have a plan.
You can start this roadmap using our Parenting Plan Worksheet.
Show Extra Tip- After you write down your ideas for the Parenting Plan Worksheet, invite your co-parent to do the same. Let your co-parent know you're interested in his/her ideas.
- Decide on a safe and productive time and place to share your ideas.
"I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem with decency and self-respect and whatever courage is demanded, is to know where you yourself stand. That is, to have in words what you believe and are acting from."
—William Faulkner