While a stable marriage may be ideal for Texas families, it is not always possible for parents to stay together. In some cases, parents may not even get married before they decide to go their separate ways. If parents do decide to get divorced or end their relationship, it is important to engage in effective co-parenting to preserve the best interest of their children.
When parents work together to raise their children, the offspring receive the stability that they need. The child has a consistent schedule, consistent boundaries and feels confident that both parents will be there when needed. Typically, this results in a child who is able and willing to meet the challenges that life may present.
Other benefits of co-parenting include defined roles between the parent and child. When parents don’t communicate well, the child may attempt to mediate between parents or offer support to a parent. This may cause a child to have split allegiances as opposed to having equal relationships with both parents. When a child sees their parents resolving conflicts in a mature manner, that child learns how to resolve their conflicts in a healthy manner. The child also learns how to get along with others even when it may be uncomfortable to do so.
A parent whose marriage is coming to an end may want to try to reach an accord on the applicable legal issues with the help of a mediator. Mediation may allow a parent to openly express his or her feelings in a safe place. However, this may only work if both parties are able to express themselves without fear of retribution and if they are both willing to work toward a resolution in good faith. Any resulting agreement can be reviewed by the parties’ respective family law attorneys.