Parenting courses have been mandated for divorcing parents in the state of Texas for many years. Psychologists have found that children whose parents are divorcing can experience better childhoods and more successful futures if their parents are aligned and dedicated to their children’s best interests in spite of the divorce.
“Co-parenting Into The Future” is not a list of things to do or to avoid. It is a course designed to address the individual “whys” of the divorce and ways to clear those things up so that you are enabled to create a future for your children after the divorce which is not “business as usual.”
Both taking the same course might be ideal and it is not necessary. There is information and there are tools in the course that can assist you in creating a system of communication which you can use to guide the creation of a successful communication path for both you and your spouse and for the children and each parent. In other words, a new way of communicating, making decisions and agreements which will benefit each of you.
What happens when a parent fails to take any parenting course is left up to the individual Judge. However, some of the repercussions have included, limited or no access to your children until you take the course, a change in custody or an enforcement proceeding if there is a specific court order in place ordering a parenting course.
Yes, you must watch all five segments, although not necessarily at the same time and there is no time limitation on how long you have to complete all 5 segments.
After you have completed all 5 segments, there will be a quiz. You will need to pass at least 80% of the quiz to receive a link to download the certificate.
Will be more effective in dealing with the divorce process for themselves and their children. Will have more freedom after the divorce to move on with their lives and to have more peace of mind. Will be better able to assist their children during and after the divorce in creating positive relationships with both parents. Will learn ways to make the post-divorce relationship with their former spouse and positive so that their children can know and love each of their parents without the negativity that often accompanies post-divorce interactions involving the children. Will be more at ease in dealing with attorneys, their spouse, friends, colleagues, and their spouse’s family during and after the divorce. Will develop creative and effective ways of resolving difficult issues involving the children, such as holidays, school events, discipline, education and social events. Will learn to create effective agreements and a peaceful way of interacting with the other parent. Will develop an understanding of “what happened” in the relationship so that there is less likelihood that past events will impact the future of co-parenting. Will look at ways to get beyond the anger and resentment form the relationship so that these experiences have less likelihood of impacting your children’s futures. Will learn how to deal with the breakdowns from the relationship so that these same breakdowns are less likely to reappear and affect their lives and the creation of a successful co-parenting relationship. Will learn how to create a co-parenting relationship with their former spouse which is not based on the past and is not “business as usual”.
Are there any additional outcomes you would like to create. This is an opportunity for you to create your own future and that of your children. Take a few moments before you actually begin watching this course and re-read and think about our intended outcomes. List any other personal ones that you are committed to, such as “learning better forms of communication with my former spouse.”
Most states have a framework for parenting time/visitation agreements which will be presumed to be appropriate for your children. Most states also provide that parents can make agreements for parenting time which are different than the presumed plan. Each of you is encouraged to create agreements that work for your family. These agreements should be reviewed by a lawyer when you are complete to insure that the agreement will be enforceable and complies with state ordered minimums.
Imagine that you need to have a discussion with the other parent regarding summer activities. What ground rules will make it more likely that the discussion will result in an agreement that will benefit your children? These do not necessarily need to be spoken ground rules. They can also be a framework that you have worked out by yourself and from which you operate. Some examples might be: Only have this discussion when the children are not present, or, do not try to have this discussion if you know the timing is inconvenient for the other party (like dinner time), or, do not make negative comments (such as “I hope for once, you will help with the costs.”)
Choose a topic you need to discuss with the other parent and set some ground rules for yourself and, if necessary for both of you (such as, you both agree that this is a grown up decision, do not ask the children what they want.)
If you have actually had this kind of discussion with the other parent, any agreements, at least in the beginning, are best in writing. It is best to make any agreement very specific as to time and place if either of you is supposed to do something, such as deliver a child to an event.
This is usually one thing, or a small series of closely related events, which caused you to take a “left turn” and to decide that your relationship was not what you had hoped for. In writing your answers to this question, also take a look at your own actions in this thing or series of events. How did or could your actions have contributed to this “left turn”?
