Parents who aren’t in a romantic relationship any longer will likely still have to work as a team to raise their children. Part of this involves having conversations as needed, but there are some situations that make that difficult.
When parents can’t get along, they may be tempted to try to avoid speaking to each other as much as possible. One way they may think about relaying messages is through the children, but this isn’t ever a good idea for several reasons.
Messages are improperly relayed
When parents don’t communicate directly, there’s a chance that the messages they need to send each other may not be relayed correctly. This sets up the possibility of arguments that didn’t need to happen. Ultimately, this can delay critical decisions that need to be made for the children, which could mean that the children’s best interests aren’t being upheld.
Children have to deal with knee-jerk reactions
Children are put in a difficult position because they may be exposed to reactions that they shouldn’t have to see. Oftentimes, they will take these reactions to heart, even if they’re about the situation and not directly related to the child.
Children may feel they have to choose sides
There’s also a chance that the child will think they have to choose sides. This is common when the message comes with differing opinions, so parents must ensure they’re not putting their children in this position.
Some parents can’t communicate verbally because every discussion devolves into a fight. Finding other methods, such as monitored parenting apps or text messages, may be beneficial. Regardless of the method, the terms of communication should be covered in the parenting plan.