Learning how to co-parent your children without being in a romantic relationship with their other parent is a major change. In some cases, handling activities where the children will want both parents present is the biggest challenge because it may require contact with each other.
Taking the time to set ground rules ahead of time is important so there’s no doubt about how these extracurricular activities will be handled. These two points are a good place to start with determining how to proceed.
Keep conversations calm
It’s not a good idea to discuss contentious matters when you’re at a child’s activities. The focus of both parents should be solely on the children and their participation in the activities. The guidelines for conversations and interactions should also extend to other people who come to watch the children.
Determine how funding will be handled
Some extracurricular activities have additional expenses, so discussing how those will be handled is critical. This might be handled by each parent paying their share directly to the organization. In some cases, one parent may pay and the other reimburses their share. It may be best to get this in writing so there aren’t any questions about it in the future.
The parenting plan is the backbone of handling each aspect of the co-parenting agreement. This should outline how notifications about activities are handled. It should also discuss transportation plans and guidelines for parents’ behavior at the activities. Working with someone familiar with these matters may help you to determine the best way to proceed.