Summer is almost over! It is time to return to school, and we understand you will likely feel the rush. It is common to be stressed ahead of the school year for parents and children. However, what’s even more stressful is if the parents have decided to part ways this summer. It can take a whole different toll on the family altogether. Divorce is never easy. It is hard to express how painful divorce is when it happens to you. It is emotionally and physically challenging as parting ways with someone you’ve loved the most is difficult. It affects you and your partner, and if you have children, they become the worst victim. Children can have extreme or mixed feelings about their parent’s divorce. Some children completely shut down without expressing themselves and look for ways to deal with the situation, such as drugs. While some struggle, and it reflects in their behavior or attitude. It is tough to see parents separating and what the future may look like.
To ensure your children’s best interests are considered, you must inform them about your decisions. It is best not to share every detail, but they have the right to know what’s happening. To make things smooth for your child, it is best to be on the same page with your ex-spouse. Some suggestions for divorced parents are to start the school year without hiccups.
- Inform the school – As parents, if you’ve decided to part ways, inform the school authorities. Nobody is asking to share every detail with the school but talking about separation will make things easier for your child at school too. Schools can add both the parents to mailing lists, such as newsletters, school updates, field trips, etc. This helps both parents to be equally part of their child’s school routine and curriculum and will not have to struggle for information at the last minute. Both can request the school teacher to attend parent-teacher meetings so they are up to date with their child’s school progress.
- Use a shared online calendar – It is good to keep a reminder of your child’s school field trips or visit with their parent. Moreover, all the school-related activities can be tracked, such as exams, report cards, and information that parents should know.
- House rules – It is suggested to follow similar regulations such as screen time, homework, or bedtime and should be discussed among both parents before implementing any rules. It is not a good idea for one parent to have such house rules while the other parent loosens up. For child’s best interest, they should be disciplined in both houses and not given an idea to differentiate between their parents.
- Supply list – Both parents must take up the responsibility for individual tasks, so there’s no overlap. It is best to split the lists; the child should go with each parent and get the items. In such a case, it avoids extra items or missing out on things in such cases.
If you need help navigating through the divorce process, schedule a consultation with Shaffer Family Law at (480) 470-3030 today.