People sometimes move to a new area after a divorce. When this involves children and only one parent moves, things can become challenging. The parent who doesn’t live in the same area as the child will need to find ways to make long-distance co-parenting a little bit easier.
There are several things the parent can do that will enable them to build a meaningful relationship with their children. The key is to figure out what works for their unique circumstances.
Take advantage of technology
Technology makes it much easier these days to keep in contact with your child than it was for past generations. They had to rely on written letters that took considerable time to be delivered. More recently, they had phone calls.
These days, you can use video chats to stay in touch. This means you can do things together, despite the miles. For example, you may play a board game or read a book. These options won’t replace in-person visits, but they can bridge the gap between them.
Plan in-between trips
Your children likely have school and extracurricular activities that take up a lot of time. This may limit when they can come to see you, but it may not limit when you can see them. If you can work with your ex, you may be able to plan to visit your children for a weekend or a few days. This is a good way to make a meaningful connection in between normal parenting time.
Having a good parenting plan is critical when you’re embarking on a long-distance co-parenting situation. This should outline everything from communication between in-person visits to decision-making guidelines. Working with someone familiar with these types of situations may enable you to ensure you have everything in order.