How does long distance co-parenting work?

Working together with a co-parent after divorce might feel like a big hurdle in and of itself, but for many people, this is just the start. Distance puts an even bigger wedge into things, making it hard for co-parents to share equal time with children.

In these cases, it is important to maintain quality over quantity. But how can you do this?

Maximizing your time

Onward discusses long-distance co-parenting and how to make it work. Essentially, many parents across the world have to deal with long-distance co-parenting for various reasons. A parent might have a military position, or they may need to take care of an old or injured relative. Whatever the case, separation from a child’s custodial parent is not always avoidable.

In these situations, making the time you have count is what is most important. Needless to say, you cannot compete in terms of quantity, as you simply do not have the free time to match the custodial parent. But you can make every second count.

Meet your child’s comfort level

To do this, make sure you meet your child where they are comfortable. Do they like phone calls, or do they prefer video chats? Do they like surprise messages or do they want to stick to a schedule? Do they want you to see super involved, or do they need a little more space? Decipher what makes your child most at ease and use that to maximize your communication.

It might take some trial and error at first, and of course, nothing replaces seeing your child in person. But for the time you must stay away, this can help both of you maintain strong connections and bonds through it all.