When your child was born, you did not automatically know how to be a parent. That knowledge comes with time as you raise your child.
The same applies to co-parenting. Whether it is after a divorce or you were never married, co-parenting is something you learn to do. So, here are a few things to remember.
Skills take time to learn
Co-parenting is both a situation and a relationship. However, Psychology Today notes that it is also a skill. This means that like any kind of skill:
- It takes time and practice to hone your abilities
- You may not get it right at first, and that is okay
Learning a new skill can be a challenge – especially when you consider the emotions that come with a divorce or any family matter. As long as you keep a learning mindset and keep working, you can improve this skill.
There are many skills within co-parenting too
Co-parenting may be a skill itself, but it also involves a wide array of other skills you must hone as well. These commonly include:
- Conflict resolution
- Effective communication
- Time management
These skills take time to master too. However, improving each one can help you on your journey to improving your co-parenting skill as well.
You are still learning
Unfortunately, practice does not always make perfect. Practice does make you better though. No one masters a skill in one day, much less one week. Of course, it is critical to put in the work to build your skill, but remember that you are improving every day.
The most important thing to remember is not to be too hard on yourself. You and your family are navigating this together and it will take time for co-parenting to become the norm for you, your co-parent and your children.