Even if you and your spouse are divorcing on good terms, that does not mean co-parenting will be straightforward. Aside from deciding where the child will live, there can be other difficult decisions where you may have conflicting views.
Now that the marriage is ending you may feel more confident to express your true views on certain topics regarding your child, rather than following your spouse’s lead or constantly seeking to compromise.
1. Religion
Some people are heavily religious and some are not. Even couples who share the same religion can sometimes differ drastically in their approach to it. Married couples often struggle to agree on which if any religion their child should follow and divorce can widen that gap. Maybe you always agreed to go along with specific traditions because they were important to your spouse. Divorcing might see you abandoning these altogether, and feeling more convinced than ever that you don’t want your child being forced into abiding by those traditions either.
2. Medical care
Your financial situation may be very different now than when you were married. Maybe your spouse insists a dentist their friend recommended should take care of your child’s teeth, but you feel that the dentist is overpriced and seeks to carry out work that is not needed. Or perhaps it is the choice of doctor for your child or whether they need a particular operation that is the issue. Thinking about how you will choose and how you will split the costs is crucial.
3. Education
Arguments could also arise over a choice of school or college. You might see the value in paying more for a prestigious college, while your spouse insists that what matters is the effort your child puts in and the grade they leave with, not the name on the sign.
Considering all these things while you are going through the divorce allows you to document how you will handle them. This can reduce the chance of conflict later.
