Amid a divorce, you will likely hear that co-parenting is more beneficial to your children. Co-parenting requires you and your spouse to maintain an amicable relationship while working towards your children’s best interests.
However, not all divorces end in a way that allows for co-parenting. If you and your ex have a combative or strained relationship, you may have difficulties maintaining a co-parenting strategy. According to Healthline, parallel parenting may benefit parents who have a negative relationship.
Parallel parenting compared to co-parenting
Co-parenting requires you to communicate often and about everything. You work closely with your ex-partner to parent your children. The problem is that when you work so closely, you may end up fighting or bringing up old resentment. Parallel parenting works by having a plan in place from the beginning. Both of you follow the parenting plan down to the letter. You may do custody trade-offs at neutral locations and limit in-person communication. Most parents choose to speak through text or email because it allows them to remain professional.
Parallel parenting and the benefits to your children
Like all parents, you want your children to thrive in a healthy and stable environment. If you cannot speak to your ex without fighting, it can negatively impact your children. Children may feel less secure and unstable because of the back and forth fighting. Parallel parenting helps both adults remain calm. Over time, wounds may heal because parallel parenting allows adults to care for themselves.
Children who witness fighting between parents tend to have more stress. Parallel parenting may take the stress off kids and parents in high-conflict relationships.