Kids News
Laura Doerflinger, MS, a licensed mental health counselor, has a good idea for co-parenting by email. She suggests each parent pick a day to publish a Kids Mail email. For example if you drop the children off Sunday night, publish Kid News Monday morning. What to include?
- School: Grades, homework, school incidents, forms that need to be filled out, conferences, etc.
- Health: Colds, doctor appointments, dentist, counseling, moods, etc.
- Financial: Payments due or parenting plan division of costs for activities, medical expenses, etc.
- Schedule: Changes to the current schedule, changes in your child’s plans, holiday times, etc.
- Vacations: Clarification of times and plans – phone numbers, etc.
- Upcoming Events: Social, school, extracurricular or sport activities.
Doerflinger suggests avoiding control issues by not giving instructions and relating only the facts. Limit the news to co-parenting issues. This is not a place to discuss your relationship. Respond to the items that need responses and be sure to thank the other parent for the effort.