A detailed parenting plan can help you raise your kid(s) successfully in two homes. But what if your co-parent becomes uncooperative? What can you do to protect your parental rights?
Here is what you can do:
Determine if your co-parent is doing it intentionally
Your co-parent may be uncooperative, or may not have gotten the hang of your parenting plan, especially in the beginning. It can take time before a parenting plan works smoothly.
Thus, if you are having disagreements with your co-parent, take a step back and assess if they are being uncooperative or if you are experiencing bumps in the road. You may discover your current parenting disagreements occurred even before the divorce.
Identify the most affected areas
If you determine your co-parent is uncooperative, identify if they refuse to cooperate in all aspects of your co-parenting or a few areas. For example, your co-parent may be active when it comes to school issues but unwilling to discuss medical matters, or they may only disagree with the system you use for shared expenses.
If your co-parent is uncooperative with one issue, you can communicate with them about a way forward. But if they are difficult across all co-parenting issues, you may need to consider other options.
Control your actions
You can’t control your co-parent’s actions. Avoid reacting to everything they do, particularly manipulative tactics intended to push your buttons. Don’t engage in petty behaviors or back-and-forth with them. But if their behavior negatively impacts your kids, you should consider your alternatives. It may be that you need to pursue legal action to resolve the situation.