Your heart threatens to pound right out of your chest. Your palms are sweating, and you’re looking for an escape route in case things get ugly. Is it food poisoning, or are you about to walk into parent-teacher conferences and sit at a table to discuss your child’s progress with your ex beside you?
Whether your custody agreement designates you or your ex as the primary caregiver, you’re both in this together, so don’t map the emergency exits just yet. If you’re prepared, you can navigate parent-teacher conferences with your ex—and you can stay calm, cool and collected, even if you two don’t get along.
What Your Raleigh Divorce Lawyer Might Say
Your Raleigh divorce lawyer will want you to keep the peace; it’s always better in the long run. Since you and your ex share a child, you also share the responsibility of making sure he or she grows up with firm educational support. That means letting go of your resentment, anger and hurt in order to best provide for your child.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
What works for one couple doesn’t always work for another. However, there are a few things that will make navigating conferences with your ex by your side a little easier, including:
- Making sure the teacher knows you are divorced and asking for two copies of report cards and other important documents
- Agreeing to keep disagreements out of the classroom (talking about the conference later is usually a good idea anyway)
- Ensuring there aren’t any secrets you’re keeping from your ex, such as plans to move, that might come out during a parent-teacher conference
- Avoid fighting with each other before, during or after the conference when your child is within earshot
When All Else Fails…
Talk to your Raleigh divorce lawyer to see if it’s acceptable to schedule separate parent-teacher conferences if you’re sure you and your ex can’t co-parent in your child’s classroom. There are always extenuating circumstances that excuse you from having to face your ex, such as a history of domestic violence, and there is no law that says you must both attend your kids’ events together.
