Parallel parenting is one of many potential parenting options that you can take a look at when handling your post-divorce situation. It can provide you with a good transfer point between your marital life and your life after divorce.
What is parallel parenting, exactly? And how do you know if it will actually work for you?
Preventing arguments by limiting communication
Healthline discusses the importance of having a parallel parenting plan that benefits all parties. Parallel parenting involves the use of written communication as a substitute for in-person interactions, thus limiting the chance of you and your co-parent getting into an argument.
This provides you and your co-parent with time and space to hopefully heal and move on in the aftermath of the divorce. It also allows your child to enjoy the support and active presence of both parents in their life without the potential of facing exposure to arguments and anger between you both.
Moving on after parallel parenting
Parallel parenting is not a permanent form of parenting. Eventually, the court will rule that your family is in a good enough situation to graduate to more cooperative forms of parenting. However, the timeline that this may follow will differ greatly from family to family based on how your family has handled the setup in the meantime. A court may choose to extend the parallel parenting order as it is, they may make additions to it, or they could decide to end it.
Consider speaking with legal aid if you wish to pursue this option. They can explain thoroughly what the benefits and potential risks or downsides are in a clear and concise way.
