Back to School Tips for Divorced Parents
Navigating the back-to-school period during a divorce can be challenging. Whether you’re in the midst of the process or have recently finalized it, these strategies will help you and your children transition smoothly:
- Plan together and coordinate routines with your co-parent and the school. Discuss schedules, transportation, and emergencies before school starts.
- Inform teachers to introduce the divorce to your child’s new teacher. This helps them offer appropriate support and understand your child’s challenges.
- Sync schedules to align school and parenting schedules to avoid conflicts. Stay informed about events, practices, and activities.
- Prioritize safety if necessary, and inform the school about legal restrictions or safety concerns.
- Share information to foster transparency by sharing relevant details with your co-parent. Allow teachers, counselors, and medical professionals to communicate with both parents about your child’s progress.
- Set up separate alerts for school updates to keep both parents informed.
- Stay engaged and collaborate by sharing schoolwork and reports. Do not place your children in the middle.
- Handle finances and address financial responsibilities early.
- Parents should discuss with their co-parent before making major purchases to prevent future disagreements.
- If needed, consider involving a neutral third party for communication assistance.
- Coordinate events and attend school functions peacefully. If that’s tough, attend separately to maintain a positive atmosphere.
- Prioritize your child’s growth over conflicts.
Remember to ask, “What’s best for my child?” This question guides you toward decisions that support their well-being.
The Collaborative Practice San Diego is a nonprofit, multi-disciplinary referral network of independent professionals of attorneys, mental health professionals and financial advisors working together to learn, practice, and promote Collaborative processes for problem-solving and the peaceful resolution of family law issues in regard to co-parenting, to preserve the emotional, as well as the financial assets of the family, including co-parenting concerns.
Contact us today to see how we can help preserve your family unit while working thru the divorce process.
Note This information is general and should not be construed as legal/financial/or mental health advice. You should work with your attorney, financial or mental health professional to determine what will work best for your situation.
