After a contentious divorce, it’s often hard for California parents to work together. This creates significant issues when divorced parties have children. In those cases, parallel parenting provides a viable alternative that ensures that the needs of the children remain the focal point.
The basics of parallel parenting
Parallel parenting is a method of post-divorce parenting that requires the parents to have minimal contact with one another. It’s considered a viable option because it allows both parents to remain actively engaged in their child’s life following their divorce. Parallel parenting isn’t always a long-term option as many divorced parents grow more amicable as time passes following their divorce.
Parallel parenting versus co-parenting
In co-parenting, both parties continue working together to raise their children. The children follow similar rules at both homes, and the parents remain in constant communication. Co-parenting makes it possible for both parents to attend events together and remain equally engaged in their children’s lives.
Parallel parenting assigns responsibilities to each parent. You and the other parent can determine how to divide up those responsibilities before presenting your parenting plan to a family law judge. It also allows parents to alternate which parent attends events, reducing the amount of time that exes spend together.
Benefits of parallel parenting
The most notable benefit of parallel parenting is that it reduces the amount of time that the parents spend together. This is especially good news if you went through a contentious divorce.
Studies indicate that children thrive when they spend at least 35% of their time with both parents. The benefits of parallel parenting for your children include:
- Better school performance
- Fewer behavioral issues
- Higher self-esteem
- Improved emotional health
In ideal situations, parents agree to work together for the good of their children. However, not every situation is ideal, and some parents simply can’t coexist for a while after a divorce. Parallel parenting provides a viable option that prioritizes the needs of your child.