Is Parallel Parenting Right For Your Child? How It Can Impact Children
Divorce is life-changing; it can be emotionally and physically draining. The routine is changed, everyday life is different, and some couples cope better than others. It cannot be easy to adjust to a new way of doing things. Picking up the kids, cooking dinner, and cleaning the house are now responsibilities requiring extra planning. Parents who come out from a divorce must develop a parenting plan for the sake of their children.
Sometimes everything falls into place with two households instead of one. Yet, this is not always the case. Conflict, resentment, and stress can throw well-thought-out plans into chaos. Divorce counselingis always a good start. It can help ease the transition from married to divorced and provide solutions for conflict and anger.\
Dealing with divorce is stressful, and when tempers flare, children suffer. Arguing, avoiding, and blaming are common, and sometimes children are the focus of the fighting.
The best choice for any family going through a divorce reduces conflict and provides the most amicable solution. While parallel parenting may be perfect for one family, it may not be the best fit for another. This is especially for crucial for most children, so think about them before considering your divorce options. Ask yourself, "What does divorce mean for my kids?" Like other custody agreements, there are positive and negative sides to this parenting. However, it is sometimes the only option, and in some cases, parallel parenting is court-ordered.
What is parallel parenting?
Each parent maintains their own household, separate and distinct from the other parent. This can reduce the conflict between parents. While this may seem like a perfect set-up for the parents, it may not be the child's best outcome (ren).
This kind of parentingcan be difficult, but in cases where amicable behavior is not an option, this may be the only way to move forward. This type of parenting works when both parties stick to the rules, pick up and drop off according to pre-determined times, and meet with the parenting coordinator to settle disputes. This kind of parenting gives each parent control over how the child is raised while caring.
How parallel parenting works
This parenting is all about maintaining peace. Almost all parents' contact is done through email, or the mediator, with little to no face-to-face contact. Pick-up and drop-off times are negotiated. Once the times are set, both parties must stick to them. Each parent will have control over what the child eats, wears, and does while they are with that parent. Special events and any other activities that both parents may want to have to say over must be negotiated through the mediator.
Rules for behavior are set individually; it would be best if these rules were agreed to mutually. Parallel guardianship can be tailored and custom fit for each family. The parenting coordinator will do their best to assure fair and rational outcomes. Some couples insist on no face-to-face contact while other couples are more flexible; all of this is discussed with the coordinator.
Parallel parenting is all about the child
The main concern of parents and courts is the mental well-being of the child. Parallel parenting is designed to ensure every child of divorce can have a healthy relationship with each parent. Here is a list of reasons a couple may opt for this parenting:
- The child is caught in the middle of parental conflict.
- Parental conflict makes it impossible for each parent to have a meaningful parental relationship with the child due to interference from the other parent.
- To eliminate a child's exposure to parental conflict
- Parents cannot get along with each other
- To limit or eliminate parents meeting face-to-face to control conflict
- Parents cannot get along and make decisions together on major areas of parenting
Effects of parent divorce on children
Parallel parenting is intended to reduce conflict between parents, which helps minimize the impact on the well-being of the child(ren) involved. In high-conflict divorces, opting for a parenting arrangement other than this kind of parenting could substantially affect the child(ren)'s social and academic performance. While the effects of divorce will vary by child, it is common to see a decline in academic performanceduring a divorce. This is largely due to being distracted by conflict and struggle at home. Other common effects of divorce on children include a decline in the child's social interaction. Children may begin to withdraw, losing interest in things they once enjoyed. They may also begin having difficulty relating to others and begin avoiding social interaction altogether.
A divorce with parental conflict may also impact a child's cognitive functioning. Children may become emotionally sensitive as a result of having difficulty processing their emotions. This may be exhibited by excessive anger and irritability. It's also important to understand that a divorce with high-conflict between parents without parallel parenting may have a physical impact on the involved child(ren). The physical effects of divorce are often the result of engaging in destructive or risky behavior, such as drug and alcohol use or having sex. Additionally, divorce's physical impact could manifest in other ways, such as getting sick more often, getting over illness more slowly, and even having difficulty sleeping.
Expected behavior from parents
Below is a list of commonly expected behaviors for parallel parenting plans. It is meant to achieve healthy co-parenting skills, help parents control their impulses, and stick to the plan.
- Parents agree to disengage and limit face-to-face contact.
- A schedule for parenting developed by a mediator with input from both parents is created. Both parents agree to stick to the schedule and assume there will be no flexibility in scheduling to avoid conflict.
- No part of the schedule is left to chance; every detail is worked out and agreed to, so there is no room for conflict.
- If a conflict does arise, both parents should go to the mediator to work through the conflict. No face-to-face interaction is acceptable. This includes angry phone calls and complaining in front of the child(ren) for any reason.
- Both parents agree to parent independently. This means each parent is responsible for finding out about special events, school grades, and other important events from the school or the child. Neither parent is responsible for informing the other.
- Parents agree to divide important care decisions before they arise. For example, one parent may be responsible for health-related decisions while the other is responsible for education decisions. Both agree to keep the other informed of emergencies.
- When a face-to-face situation arises, both parents should interact in a businesslike way without arguing.
- If a face-to-face meeting is required, it should be done during working hours, not after, and it should only last for 30 minutes.
- Maintain a wall of separation to avoid conflict or hurt feelings.
- Parents agree that all interactions should be done through email, not through messaging, phone calls, or face-to-face interaction. There will be times when parents need to communicate, and email is the best way to avoid conflict.
- Drop-offs and pick-ups should be done in a public place to avoid conflict.
- Both parents agree not to tell each other how to parent, stick to the assigned decisions, and do not worry about the other parent's decisions.
- If serious issues arise and it become next to impossible to remain neutral from the other parent's decisions, negotiate through the mediator to resolve the issue.
No one is perfect. Problems will occur, but sticking to the plan and using the proper channels to address the problem will help keep conflict minimum, which is your child's needs. Caring parents worry about their children, but remember, the conflict will hurt your child more than any perceived bad parenting decisions ever could.
Parallel parenting vs. co-parenting
These are two very different things. Co-parenting is done together. Parents get along, and their relationshipduring and after the divorce is amicable. Parallel parenting is done separately without input or contact from the other parent. Most parents want to co-parent; it is the healthiest way to raise a child after a divorce. However, not all parents can be co-parents, which is where parallel parenting comes into play.
How online therapy can help
Sessions with a trained therapist can help all parties deal with divorce less destructively. Explosive emotions are a part of many divorces, and it cannot be easy to make the best decisions for the children. Getting counseling with a trained family therapistcan help put the relationship in perspective. Therapy is great for any couple going through a divorce, but it is extremely helpful and constructive when there are children involved.
Listen to the counselor and try to be honest about how divorce is affecting the family dynamic. In some cases, one parent is not used to parenting alone; sometimes, one parent leaves all the major decisions up to the other parent. This type of situation can create a lot of conflicts and emotional upheaval. The best thing to do to prevent this is to seek counseling. The advice and guidance can be beneficial in helping reduce the negative effects seen in children of divorce. Divorce counseling can also help children cope with their emotions during and after the divorce process.
Parallel parenting tends to be a good option for high-conflict divorces where parents have difficulty communicating with one another amicably. With face-to-face interactions being a precarious situation with the potential for conflict, online counseling is an ideal solution for divorce counseling. Working with an online counselor eliminates the face-to-face interface that would be required with a traditional counseling appointment. Instead, parents can communicate with each other and the counselor in a virtual room. This can help parents progress in coming to terms with the best ways to parent their child(ren) and help them get through this transition to a two-household family. Regaincounselors have helped others as they have gone through divorces with children. Hear what others in similar situations have to say about their Regain counselors below.
Therapist reviews
"Dr. Anstadt is amazing. I appreciate him always reaching out to make sure things are going smoothly in between our sessions. He follows up and genuinely cares about my situation. I would recommend Dr. Anstadt to anyone who is seeking insight on co-parenting and new relationships after divorce. Thank you for everything!"
"When we were matched with Alicia, I felt things were hopeless. Authorities had been involved; we'd been to emergency crisis family counseling. It was bad. I'm amazed. Alicia turned our situation around in just a few short days, and I'm hopeful for where our co-parenting relationship is headed. I wish I'd known how helpful someone like Alicia could be to help us be effective parents."
Takeaway
Going through a divorce can be a painful process, especially when you seem to be in constant conflict with your ex and children are involved. Parallel parenting is a solution to create peace in high-conflict divorces while a child continues to maintain a relationship with both parents. Navigating these waters can be stressful, but Regainis here to help you create a parenting plan that works for you.
What does parallel parenting mean?
Parenting is never easy, and parenting after separation isn’t any easier. However, there are different parenting styles divorced parents can use to raise their children, making the transition easier for both the parents and the children. Parallel parenting is a parenting style that divorced or separated couples who aren’t on good terms will typically use. These parallel parents have little or no contact with each other. If they do have contact, it is usually through messaging or a mediator. A parallel parenting arrangement can be difficult to manage. While the child is in one parent’s care, the other person will have no say or input on their parenting decisions. The benefits of successful parallel parenting are to keep the peace, maintaining no direct contact between each co-parent to reduce conflict, while the family relationships between the child and each parent stays intact.
What is the difference between co-parenting and parallel parenting?
Co-parenting and parallel parenting are two different post-divorce parenting styles. In a parallel parenting arrangement, the parents want to raise the child separately, while still sharing parenting responsibilities. The child will spend time with each person individually, never intersecting each parent’s house. The parent will have full control over all decisions while the child is in their care. This style is sometimes necessary for divorced couples with conflict. The child maintains relationships with both parents, while the parents have little or no contact.
How do you parallel a parent with a narcissistic ex?
Agreeing with a parallel parenting plan with a narcissistic ex can be difficult, but there are ways to manage this and minimize conflict. Avoiding direct contact and only communicating with your ex over email or text messages so you always have a transcript of the conversation. When you do speak to your ex, try to be calm and unemotional. Only discuss the children, avoiding conversation about your personal life. Refrain from using your children to relay messages between you. When your ex has shared custody of the children, give them time together and limit communication with them that does not involve the children. Narcissists tend to use children as a tool of manipulation. If you are having difficulties managing the parallel parenting agreement with a narcissistic ex, it may be better to limit communication and use a mediator. Divorce is never easy. To better your emotional health, speak to a therapist for support. They can give you tools and guide you properly to manage a parallel parenting arrangement after divorce the best you can.
What should be included in a parenting plan?
Parenting after divorce can be difficult, but a parallel parenting plan can make the parents' transition and the children much easier. A parallel parenting arrangement can help you plan out how the child will spend time with each parent. Holidays and vacation time are other important things to consider ahead of time in a parenting plan. Decision-making, including healthcare, discipline, and schooling, are all things to consider in a parenting agreement to keep a healthy civil relationship.
Kids are expensive, so expenses such as tuition, food, clothing, and extracurricular activities should also be predetermined in a parallel parenting plan. It may also be beneficial to include the best communication mode and how to plan for emergencies or schedule changes. Again, this structured parenting approach ensures that both parallel parents understand their obligations and contribute fairly to their child’s needs.
What does healthy co-parenting look like?
For divorced couples, co-parenting can be a learning curve, and it can take a lot of effort from both parties to grasp healthy co-parenting. In joint custody, establishing and respecting these boundaries becomes crucial especially if they both still want to be actively involved in raising their child. The goal is to have the least amount of conflict and create a sense of normalcy for their child. Having clear boundaries with your ex is a great place to start. Having agreed-upon parenting arrangements is extremely important in a healthy co-parent relationship, and it makes the transition seamless if done properly. Yet, life happens, and being flexible to accommodate each other's needs is also a good thing.
Including each other in decision-making and being agreeable when it comes to their own parenting approach is another sign of healthy co-parenting. It doesn’t mean you have to agree on everything or always have the same parenting view, but communication is important to keep the children removed from the conflict. Being able to attend extracurricular activities together or other child life milestones, like a school performance or graduation, is really important for healthy co-parenting. Realize you are both important people in the child’s life, and each serves a purpose for the whole family.
How do courts view parallel parenting?
Family and conciliation courts view parallel parenting as a structured solution for divorced and/or high-conflict parents who can’t stand being in the same room and need to limit their communication while maintaining their parenting arrangements. The child’s well-being should be prioritized by approving detailed plans that outline agreed parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, and financial obligations.
In these cases of shared custody, one of the benefits of this approach is that it allows each parent to make independent decisions, potentially reducing conflict. Family law attorneys often recommend clear communication methods, perhaps with the support of co-parenting apps, to ensure that only necessary information is exchanged and not unnecessary disputes. When older children are involved, the courts may consider their preferences when determining the aforementioned schedules and responsibilities. Ultimately, parents should present a unified front and focus on doing the best for their children.
Is parallel parenting a good idea?
Parallel parenting could be a good idea, especially if the parents' custody situation is rough and communication between the two is challenging. One benefit of this is that it allows each parent to make independent decisions during their assigned parenting time. This reduces stress for the child, especially if the parents tend to squabble over disputes.
To ensure that important information is still being relayed to one another, structured communication methods like email or text must be in place. You may also consider a communication book where parents could document important details and updates about different areas of their child’s life without any direct interaction. Utilizing these methods allows for smoother coordination, leading to successful parallel parenting.
Is parallel parenting a legal term?
No, parallel parenting is not always considered a formal legal term. However, it is recognized as a structured approach to managing parenting time. Although it is not a separate legal category, it is often included in custody agreements with specific communication rules and methods, such as written updates of necessary information without direct interaction.
What is the healthiest parenting style for a child?
The healthiest parenting styles balance discipline with warmth, ensuring open communication and consistent parenting time. These steps encourage structure while allowing flexibility and responsiveness to a child’s needs. Using positive reinforcement and effective methods, such as active listening and setting clear expectations, can help foster emotional security and independence in a child.
What kind of parenting is best for divorced parents?
For divorced parents, an effective approach can entail depending on your ability to cooperate and adjust to one another. If you can maintain respectful communication, co-parenting can be successful. However, if you really can’t stand one another, methods like parallel parenting, where interactions are limited but parenting structure is maintained, could be the solution to also protect the child’s well-being.
Questions to ask your therapist about parallel parenting
What happens when parallel parenting doesn't work?
What kind of parenting helps children develop healthy attachments?
What are some healthy approaches a parent can take to parallel parenting?
Is parallel parenting okay for children?
What are the advantages of parallel parenting for a child?
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