Another year is coming to a close. For many co-parents it’s been one of the most challenging, or perhaps one of the most rewarding. Regardless of the outcome, we are all looking forward to making the next chapter in life a truly wonderful year.
But what’s the best way to start the New Year off right, while making sure you’re not falling into the same old traps? Well, it’s obvious – time to set some co-parenting New Year’s resolutions! Here are five resolutions we believe will set you off on the right foot:
Better financial management resolutions. Look, it’s not just you. Or being a co-parent. EVERYONE can use help managing their finances. And that’s why SupportPay‘s latest version takes into account all the needs and wants a parent could have when using a financial management app for child support. Whether you’re paying child support or collecting it – and whether you’re in Georgia or California or Alabama – SupportPay’s financial tool is being called the best out there by its current users. Moms and dads alike are saying it has already helped save them time and money. You can add in recurring expenses, track payments, schedule partial payments, and plan months in advance for bills for your child. Plus, SupportPay users also have a way of sharing expenses that beats the major competitors. All of this will make 2017 a smarter year for your pocketbook, and by the end of it, you may have enough saved for a nice vacation.
Share Some Special Holidays. Here’s an easy one: have a joint birthday. Or a joint Thanksgiving. This goes a long way in the planning process, and helps establish a precedent so that you’re not always working around various schedules and timelines to share holidays. Or make it a joint birthday party and invite your kid’s friends. Guiding wisdom here should be – do what is simplest.
BE POSITIVE. Once you’re divorced or separated, it becomes all too easy to think of your ex in a negative light. And this can affect your children. Instead, make an effort to talk about your ex in more positive ways. This is still the other parent, and you are sharing responsibilities. Breeding animosity will only make co-parenting that much harder. Encourage your children to respect the other parent. And encourage yourself to do the same.
Be more open. This can mean a lot of things. But it’s a philosophy more than a task. Examples: be more open to meeting who your ex is dating. It will help you move on and will encourage you to find someone yourself (if you haven’t already). Or be open to being more flexible on schedules – ie, if the other parent really needs you to cover for them for a legitimate reason, be open to cancelling your plans. This is crucial in forming a good working relationship.
Meet your child support obligations. Whether you are paying, collecting, or spending time with your child, the number one fight tends to be about money – even after a separation. And the best way to avoid these fights? Meet the obligation on time. SupportPay now allows for partial payments. And partial payments have been found to increase child support payments in general. If you or the other parent isn’t on SupportPay, then now is the time to do it. It’s free for 30 days, and its the right way to ring in the New Year.