The first back-to-school season after a divorce can be challenging for Louisiana families. The school year brings logistical questions that you may not have addressed during the divorce proceedings.
At its core though, the start of this school season is just like any other. The best thing you can do is talk to your ex-spouse about the responsibilities that come along with the back-to-school season.
Back-to-school shopping
A new school year means a new school supply list for each child. It’s important to discuss this list with your ex-spouse to figure out who’s going to buy what.
There are also other expenses that may not be spelled out on a list. You and your ex should also talk about who’s going to pay for your child’s new clothes as well as any extracurricular fees as they come up.
These things can create tension if you don’t address them right away or if they weren’t addressed in the child custody agreements. It’s important to ensure that you and your ex-spouse are contributing equally to the back-to-school shopping.
Address transportation logistics
It’s important to build a schedule to determine which parent picks up the children from school on any given day of the week. It’s important to build a schedule based on what works best for you and your spouse.
There are also things like extracurricular activities that need to be addressed. It’s important to decide early on which parent is going to be in charge of picking up the kids from their practices.
Communicate and work together
There may be a lot of tense feelings between you and your ex after the divorce, but that can’t come in the way of parenting. There will be times when your children will need you to go to events together or otherwise be able to make decisions together.
That’s why it’s important to build good communication skills as early as possible. Not only will you and your ex be more likely to help each other in co-parenting, but it will be a healthier family dynamic for your children as well.
It may be tough the first few years. But consistency and communication are the best ways to establish healthy habits for great co-parenting during back-to-school season.