Couples

Co-parenting

I decided to end the 8-year marriage with my wife and apply for a divorce. Our relationship has been very terrible. How can we practise “child-focused” co-parenting?

 “Co-parenting” is the direction; while “child-focused” is the cornerstone. There are many issues to be tackled after divorce.

The followings are the experience sharing of divorced parents to practise co-parenting:

• Try to avoid conflicts in front of children even if parents’ relationship is getting worse;
• Remind yourself to act from the perspective of your children, not yours;
• Remind yourself and your partner to calm down and try to communicate with each other should there be any dispute;
• Divert your attention and find ways to control emotions;
• Learn to drop hatred and anger;
• Do your best in your part

We cannot take a full grasp of everything such as our partner’s attitude and behavior. This would make us feel disappointed, aggrieved and even unhappy. However, we do hope our children growing up healthily.  If this is so, are you willing to try practicing “co-parenting”?  It is an undeniable fact that parents’ divorce would pose negative impacts on children’s growth.  To minimise these impacts, it depends on parents’ attitude and preference on co-parenting.

Source: Ms. Law, Social Worker, Hong Kong Family Welfare Society

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