Parents in Wisconsin who are divorced can learn how to more positively interact with their former spouses for the good of their children.

Even married couples can have different parenting styles that make raising kids hard. When Wisconsin moms and dads get divorced, these challenges can often increase. At the same time, the needs to communicate and work together for the benefit of the children remains even after the divorce papers are signed. Learning how to do this can be easier than many people may think.

Always put the kids first

Whatever the reason or reasons for a divorce, parents must put those aside and instead focus on their children. According to Psychology Today, it is best for kids after a divorce if they can retain good relationships with both parents. Making this happen takes work by both parents. MindBodyGreen.com explains that moms and dads can facilitate these relationships in simple ways by remembering that they should always act in the best interests of their children.

Create positive interactions

When exchanging kids from one home to the other, parents should work to be actively polite and pleasant to each other. When children see this, they can feel reassured that their parents are still a unit for their benefit. It can also help to avoid situations where children will attempt to pit parents against each other or get away with something at one house that they are not allowed to at the other.

When with children individually, Focus on the Family indicates that any negative comment made by one parent about the other can harm kids. This makes them feel conflicted and put in the middle. It can also make it harder for kids to appropriately bond with one or both parents.

Be consistent

As much as possible, developing consistent rules at both homes is always best for kids. One example of this can be keeping bedtimes the same. It can also be done by having the same boundaries for what movies can be watched or where kids will be allowed to go without supervision.

Keep parents as the communicators

Discussions about kids’ schedules, school or other topics should always take place between parents. The children should not be forced to relay messages between the two homes. If schedules become challenging, there are tools that allow online schedules to be created and shared. For some families, this reduces conflict and allows other interactions to remain positive.

When legal input can help

While an attorney is not a counselor, working with a family law attorney can be very beneficial to Wisconsin parents. In addition to facilitating appropriate parenting time, child support or other things, a lawyer’s input allows parents to focus on their kids’ needs.