5 Co-Parenting Considerations for Back-to-School, In-Person Learning

The destruction of the concept of time and our normal routines is but one major impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, it’s probably hard to believe that the kids are already back in school. We understand how difficult the past year-and-a-half has been for co-parents across California, and starting a new school year can exacerbate existing issues and create new ones. Now, here are some ways to have a great school year. 

1. Get organized. It’s hard enough to keep track of every school assignment and project in just one household. When you and your child’s other parent split custody, it’s nearly impossible to stay on top of everything without a system. Many applications exist to help co-parents monitor their child’s academic progress and message the other parent about school-related issues. The best apps require payment. 

2. Coordinate back-to-school shopping. Some parenting plans stipulate that co-parents must split back-to-school expenses evenly. Even if your child’s parenting plan doesn’t require it, it’s still a nice gesture to at least offer to help out. At the same time, don’t try to micromanage the purchases made by the other parent. 

3. Proactively communicate with your child’s teacher. Teachers are extremely busy, but don’t let that stop you from letting your child’s teacher know about the situation with you and the other parent. Make it clear which parent should receive communication about your child’s schoolwork and other pertinent information. Try your best to work as a team. 

4. Keep other problems away from your child’s academic life. A parent-teacher conference is not the best place to hash out your differences over child support. Your child’s grades are likely to suffer if you argue with the other parent in front of your child. No matter how much you hate your ex, remember that the only person who loves your child as much as you is the other parent. 

5. Don’t forget to update visitation orders. The pandemic upended almost everyone’s life. Virtual learning forced many co-parents to adjust parenting plans. If you and your child’s other parent want to go back to the way things were before, great. If you like the new arrangement better, ask your ex if he or she feels the same way. If you informally agreed to a temporary change, make sure you get a court order formally establishing the new arrangement. For more on modifying child custody and support orders, check out our previous blog. 

We’re Here to Help Settle Your Family Law Matters

Anthoor Law Group knows that nothing is more important to you than the safety and wellbeing of your kids. We want to help you confront any legal matters that stand in the way of that. We’ll spend time with you to find out your goals and help you every step of the way. Call us today at (510) 794-2887 to set up an initial consultation.