Navigating the Back-to-School Transition: Tips for Divorced Parents

Transitioning back to school as divorced parents can be emotionally challenging for all involved. It is a hectic time that has lots of moving and changing parts. Trying to address these challenges in two separate homes can unintentionally add complexity and conflict. However, strategies exist to make this process smoother for your family unit.

When you use the collaborative divorce process, you can gain co-parenting skills that will help your family anticipate and work through various situations ahead of time including back-to-school.

Here are a few suggestions we share with clients with school-aged children:

• Plan a focused conversation with your co-parent at least one month before school starts to make plans for the upcoming school year.
• Maintain this ongoing dialogue with your co-parent about schedules, events, and creating a unified approach throughout the school year.
• Collaborate to create routines that provide consistency and comfort for your children.
• Equally divide parenting tasks such as homework help, after school activities, and doctor appointments to reduce stress and foster teamwork.
• Highlight the school’s positive features.
• Collaborate on school supply purchases. Decide which parent will provide which supplies or agree to take turns on providing supplies.
• Create a shared calendar for each child for their needs that includes a regular meeting for the parents so you children know that you are engaging in conversations and cooperation.
• Attend events together, ensure the children see you cooperate with one another.

Creating a comprehensive co-parenting plan for school during and after divorce requires that parents collaborate and prioritize their children’s well-being.  The collaborative divorce model includes mental health experts to help you resolve challenges. Lean into these resources post-judgment if you cannot resolve challenges on your own.

Consider involving legal professionals or mediators who specialize in collaborative divorce and family law to ensure that the plan you create in your divorce is legally sound and serves the best interests of your children both during and after your divorce.

At Campbell Family Law offices, Kathy Campbell helps her clients divorce differently to give them more involvement in the outcome.  She only works in the out-of-court processes of mediation, collaborative divorce, and collaborative mediation to provide clients the flexibility they need and want.

Contact Kathy today to see how she can help you and your spouse divorce amicably and co-parent together.

Note: This information is general in nature and should not be construed as legal, financial, tax or mental health advice. You should work with your attorney and financial, mental or tax professional to determine what will work best for your situation.