Three Unique Co-Parenting Methods for Divorced Parents in Illinois 

 Posted on January 24, 2022 in Family Law Blog

Even after going your separate ways in an Illinois divorce, your ex will still have a significant impact on your life when you share children. For many divorced couples, raising children after a divorce is a very challenging issue, and finding an arrangement that works can be frustrating and time-consuming. When parents struggle to work within traditional parenting agreement constructs, it may be helpful to get creative and turn to alternative methods of co-parenting. Depending on your needs, one of these three unique co-parenting methods may be helpful. 

Parallel Parenting

For some couples, every point of contact is a fight waiting to happen. When one or both parents are uncooperative or hostile towards each other, they risk constantly exposing their children to conflict. To protect the children from the psychological damage this can cause, parallel parenting offers co-parents an opportunity to treat parenting as a business enterprise. Couples who use parallel parenting strategies only communicate when absolutely necessary, and will usually do so with designated communication channels like a special email address. If you choose to use parallel parenting, be sure to include as many details as possible in your court-approved parenting plan. That way, when issues arise, you already have solutions and can avoid further conflict. 

Living Together

Even after divorce, some couples who can get along well continue living together. They may do this to save money, to provide their children with stability, or to save each other the difficulty of moving children between distant households. Although living together is not a viable arrangement for couples with serious communication issues or difficulty avoiding conflict, it allows some families to meet their needs while causing the children minimal upheaval. 

Bird’s Nest Strategy

Most parents move into separate homes after they get divorced. While this can provide much-needed personal space, it can be very difficult to transition children between households, especially if the children have special needs. Some parents use a strategy called the “bird’s nest” - essentially, the children always live in the family home, and the parents alternate living there. When parents are not in the “bird’s nest,” they live in their separate households. While this option is naturally more expensive, many parents find it to be highly effective while their children are young. 

Call a Lombard, IL Parenting Plan Attorney

Creating a parenting plan takes patience and flexibility. With the help of an experienced DuPage County, IL parenting plan lawyer with A. Traub & Associates, you may be able to create your parenting plan more quickly and with fewer logistical obstacles. You can contact us today to find out more about how we can help you create a parenting agreement that works for you and your family. Call us at 630-426-0196. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+VI&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8675000&SeqEnd=12200000