Divorced parents in San Jose may struggle to coparent with a difficult former spouse. The first step in dealing with this is to consider the nature of the conflict. If it is largely between the two parents and does not involve issues such as domestic violence or addiction, there may be steps one parent can take to reduce the conflict.
In any situation involving young children after a divorce, it is imperative that parents remember to put the best interests of their offspring first. This means setting aside their own conflicts to focus on the child’s well-being. Divorced parents need to draw strong boundaries around their personal lives and only focus on communication that deals with the children. A parent who understands what may set the other parent off can avoid that topic or behavior or at least prepare for the parent’s reaction.
Parents should avoid saying negative things about one another. The child’s relationship with the other parent should be encouraged. Failing to do this could lead to the child feeling inhibited about expressing emotions. In some cases, co-parenting conflicts after divorce may not last. It is possible that after the initial turmoil of the divorce lessens, the other parent may become easier to deal with.
There might be more serious problems that make a parent fear for the child’s safety, and in those situations, other steps may be appropriate. The parent may want to go to an attorney or judge with evidence of the situation. A parent’s visitation might be limited to supervised visits only. If a parent is concerned about an international child abduction, informing the court of this concern can set a number of things in motion that will help prevent the other parent from applying for a passport for the child or from taking the child out of the country.