As parents going through a divorce, you look for the best ways to support your child through the thick and thin of it.
One of the apparent best ways to do this is through parallel parenting. Many experts suggest this for certain families as well, but does it actually work?
How does it work?
Psychology Today gets into parallel parenting as an option for divorcing parents. First of all, what is parallel parenting? This option allows for parents to co-parent and have equal involvement in their child’s life, without having to come in direct contact with one another.
Instead of communicating via face-to-face meetings or even phone or video calls, they interact strictly via text. This can include text messages and emails, instant messaging services or even hand-written letters.
What is its purpose?
Next, what is its purpose? The intent of parallel parenting is to allow both parents the equal chance to remain present and active in their child’s life. At the same time, it cuts down on contact co-parents have with one another.
This serves two purposes. First, it provides time and space which many people need to move on after a split. Second, it reduces the chance of parents getting into arguments, which many experts state is the most traumatic part of divorce for children. It does this by forcing parents to write down their thoughts and reactions rather than spitting them out at a moment’s notice.
Parallel parenting does work, but not every family or situation is the same. What works for one family may not fit the needs or wants of another. One must simply use best judgment to decide if parallel parenting suits them.
