Texas Co-parenting Can Be Challenging For Those in The Military

If you’re a military service member or were married to one, you likely understand how difficult it can be to balance family life with career service duties. The fact is that some Texas marriages don’t withstand the strain. If your household is one of many that is undergoing changes because of impending divorce, you’re definitely not alone in your struggle.

The U.S. military typically offers many on-base resources for families, especially parents going through divorce. In addition to those, it’s always a good idea to know where to seek outside support as needed, particularly if a legal issue arises with custody. Co-parenting takes a lot of cooperation and compromise, which doesn’t come easy for some former couples.

Keeping these ideas in mind might help

You and your ex may no longer want to be in a romantic relationship together; however, you’ll always share a special bond as parents of the same children. The following list provides practical tips that can be useful when learning to adapt to a co-parenting lifestyle:

• If you don’t feel much empathy toward your ex, try to focus on being empathetic toward your children. Divorce doesn’t necessarily have to ruin their lives, but it definitely disrupts it, which means the less conflict between you and your ex, the better your kids can cope.
• A positive attitude goes a long way to help forge a peaceful co-parenting bond. While you may have residual ill-feelings regarding things that happened in your marriage, keeping a positive attitude in your post-divorce, co-parenting relationship is best for everyone involved.
• Respect goes right along with positivity. If your children witness the mutual respect you and your co-parent have for one another, they are more apt to show respect for both parents as well, rather than feel pitted against one or the other.
• Especially when one or both parents are in the military, a carefully detailed co-parenting schedule is essential to a low-stress plan.

The good news is that you can customize your co-parenting plan to fit your needs and ultimate post-divorce lifestyle goals. Many military members incorporate their family care plans into their court orders for custody and visitation. It’s not uncommon, however, for challenges to arise, so it’s a good idea to be as prepared as possible. Know your rights and how to protect them, and don’t be afraid to seek guidance if you’re unsure how to handle a particular legal issue.