The definition of a traditional family has really changed in recent years. Sometimes parents find themselves on opposite sides of the fence because of a divorce and unfortunately, the children get caught in the crossfire. It certainly is true that parenting is not easy but when the parents are able to work together, at least for the children’s sake, things tend to work out nicely.
There are many things to consider when you are sharing children in a divorce situation. It includes everything from the weekends to daily life, vacation and holidays. The children have to shuffle back-and-forth between households and parents are not unified in the way that they were when they were together. In more and more cases, however, parents are learning the art of co-parenting and it allows a family to function as a unit, even when they are apart.
Co-parenting happens when divorced parents make the decision to support and respect each other so that they can have equally healthy and active relationships with their children. This has produced many long-term, positive effects on the children.
It often is seen as a benefit to the child’s behavior and the children find they are able to maintain relationships with both the mother and the father. Their schoolwork is often benefited because of this effort as well.
The Huffington Post recently talked about 12 positive effects that co-parenting can have on your children:
1. Children feel loved and that their emotions matter
2. Children have positive behavioral outcomes and their socio-emotional development becomes well-balanced allowing them to enjoy their childhood and have a healthy upbringing
3. Children can properly develop self-esteem and confidence and are able to express themselves when they have to communicate
4. Children feel they can communicate openly without fear which reduces their level of anxiety and fear
5. Children admire and are proud of their parents who can encompass class, dignity, and respect for the other parent(s)
6. Children maintain strong bonds with both parents which helps them to develop healthy attachments
7. Children are able to connect with their stepparents without shame or guilt
8. Children love their parents equally and stay connected without feelings of betrayal and fear
9. Children respect their parents and everyone else in the mix and do not carry feelings of resentment or anger into adulthood
10. Children do not feel rejected knowing that their parents are making a conscious effort to co-parent in harmony
11. Children perform with ease at school and within their day-to-day activities
12. Children feel that he/she is part of the family and no longer feels responsible to fix things between their parents or protect one of their parents from the other
Co-parenting is not always easy but it can be done. This is evident when you see what Laura Dee and her ex-husband have accomplished.
Most divorced couples wouldn’t think about vacationing together but she and her ex-husband came up with a brilliant plan. They would surprise their children with the father joining them on vacation.
Dee and her husband have been separated for eight years and the children were sometimes distraught during special times, such as vacation.
“As parents seeing our children upset is hard, all we want is to make our children happy. Co-parenting is hard for many people but we are proud of what we have achieved with bringing our children up, Dee said.
When she was at the airport headed for Cyrus with her children, Darcie and Callum, a surprise was waiting.
The father appeared out of the airport as they were walking through the crowd. The kids were so happy to see their dad that they ran up to him in tears and gave him a big hug.
They were even happier when they out that he was coming on vacation with them. Watch the heartwarming reaction in this video: