Divorcing parents have to think carefully about how they’re going to work as a team to raise their children. The age of the children is one of the factors that matters in these cases. If one of these children is a teen, there are some factors to consider that might not be present for children of other ages.
Teens often have stronger opinions, busier schedules and a need to be more independent than younger children. They’re often balancing school, extracurricular activities, a busy social life and part-time work. These can all have an impact on how parenting time is handled.
What should be considered for teens?
One of the challenging aspects for parents who are co-parenting teens is that a traditional parenting plan may not work for them. Teens will typically need to have more flexibility, but they will still need structure. Finding the right balance between the teen’s preferences and the court order may be a challenge.
How can parents reduce the stress of co-parenting a teen?
Clear communication between co-parents can help to reduce misunderstandings. Even though it may seem as though the teen is old enough to pass messages between parents, that shouldn’t happen. Teens may not always relay the messages properly, so parents should speak directly to each other.
What else should parents know?
Parents should remember that the teen is still their child. They shouldn’t be a sounding board for complaints or concerns about the divorce. Your ex is still their parent, so avoid speaking negatively about them to your teen.
Even though you may not need a complex parenting plan for your teen, it’s still a good idea to have at least a basic plan in place. Working with someone familiar with your situation and current laws may be beneficial in these cases.
