Communicating with your ex is often one of the hardest things you’ll have to do if you share children together. Some parents are able to put aside the factors that led to their split and truly focus on their children, but that can take time and effort.
If you and your ex have strained communication, there are a few small changes that may help to make the situation a little easier.
Make a list of things you need to talk about
Having a written list of things to discuss may help you to ensure you don’t forget anything. It may not be necessary to talk about everything in one sitting, so you can continue to add things to the list based on the priority of each item.
Keep your statements focused
It’s usually best to use short and concise statements when you’re communicating with your ex. This enhances the chance of them receiving the important information you’re relaying. It may also reduce the possibility of them misconstruing the message.
Know when it’s time to take a break
Things may get tense while you’re speaking to your ex. Knowing when to take a break from the conversation can help to preserve the peace. Be sure you set a time to come back together to talk about the matter. Hopefully, you can both think about the best solutions for the disagreement while you’re taking a break from each other.
Ultimately, it will be easier to make co-parenting communication easier if you and your ex can both commit to focusing on the children. It may behoove you to put specific communication terms, such as acceptable hours and methods for communication.