Parenting under the best of circumstances requires a lot of communication and cooperation. While separated and divorced, it's vital to get on the same page for the sake of your children. To help everyone get into a new school year, try these:
1. Communicate with each other about school events and schedules.
2. Coordinate pick-ups/drop-offs and extracurricular activities. If you're splitting the cost of school supplies, coordinate this too.
3. Create a plan upfront and adhere to it throughout the year to hopefully cut down on conflicts further down the road.
4. Meet teachers together and inform them if your split is new or in the process so everyone can be sensitive to the situation's impact on the child.
5. Share information about school lunches and activities to test grades and significant projects. You might create a weekly update to stay on top of everything.
6. Both parents should attend school events and teacher meetings. If necessary, sit on opposite sides of the room.
7. Create a shared calendar to make coordination easier.
8. Agree on bedtimes, screen times, and homework schedules. Consistency between homes is essential for a young student.
9. When one parent cannot attend a special event, share photos or updates with each other. You're still a family.
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