Do you and the other parent agree on whether the children should return to school in June?
Co-parenting can be particularly challenging for separated parents, when the parents do not get on with each other.
We’re in unprecedented times with the corona crisis and the biggest topic around parenting issues at the moment is whether to allow the children (of the ages set out by the government) to return to school in June.
My advice to my clients has been –
- Put aside your personal feelings towards the other parent and work together as a team for your children.
- Ensure you make a child focused decision and not what is easier logistically for the parents.
- Remember you share parental responsibility with the other parent and this includes your obligation to the children around their health and education.
- How do you feel about the potential ongoing threat of COVID-19? Are you worried about your children catching it and/or bringing it home to other members of the family?
Do your children want to go back to school? Do they miss their friends and teachers? Would it be good for their mental health to see their friends again?
- Are you concerned that the longer they are out of school, the harder they might find it to return in September? Or perhaps do you not think it’s worth going back for only a few weeks, as it’ll then be the school summer holidays.
- Ask yourself whether your reasons for or against the return to school are valid and in the best interests of the children.
- If you can’t agree, you could consider attending mediation or as a last resort an application to the court. It’s difficult to know for sure how a court would decide as these are unprecedented times. But parental responsibility will be an important consideration.
If you have found the tips in this blog useful then you’ll find lots more in my eBooks, which you can purchase and download today.
If you’d like to work with me 1:1, for help preparing for your divorce/or support during or after the divorce process, please get in touch to find out how I can help.
Why I became a divorce consultant.