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How does parallel parenting work?

On Behalf of | Mar 21, 2024 | FAMILY LAW - Child Custody

Adjusting to life after divorce can be challenging, especially when there are unresolved conflicts between parents. If they are on bad terms, it can be difficult to co-parent their child and appropriately follow their parenting time arrangement. Fortunately, there are ways for parents to perform their responsibilities while keeping conflicts under control, such as parallel parenting.

This type of co-parenting can be appropriate for divorced couples who tend to have severe conflicts, potentially causing severe arguments or fights. Using this option, the parents have reduced communication, allowing either of them to make independent daily decisions when the child is with them.

How to adopt parallel parenting

To effectively incorporate this co-parenting style in a family’s life, the parents may need their attorneys to integrate the necessary details in the parenting plan. This information may include decisions on holiday schedules, course of action during emergencies and other specific arrangements. Then, they can deal with scenarios and decisions separately if not addressed in the plan.

This setup can significantly lessen one-on-one communication between parents, reducing the risk of conflicts. If the parents must interact, they can use specific ways to relay messages, such as through emails or text messages.

Determining if parallel parenting is appropriate

Conflicts and disputes between parents can harm the child, especially if they become too severe to keep under control. Co-parenting strategies, such as parallel parenting, exist to address these situations and mitigate damage to family relationships. When considering this option, seeking legal counsel first can be helpful. Legal guidance can help determine if parallel parenting is essential or other options are more applicable.