When people in Massachusetts get divorced, some may hope they never have to see their ex-spouse ever again. People with children, however, may not be so lucky, at least if they want to remain in their children’s lives. The fact is that parents with children are not entirely divorcing themselves from their ex, they are merely making the transition from married couple to single co-parent.

Being a successful co-parent also has its difficulties, but there are certain key rules of thumb people should try to remember during child custody disputes and at all times moving forward. Co-parenting may not always be comfortable, but working with an ex for the benefit of the children can go a long way towards establishing a better relationship for everyone’s sake.

With that in mind, parents should never badmouth the other parent in front of their kids, and should try to avoid arguing in front of them as well. One key thing that may minimize the likelihood of an argument is picking your battles. One thing co-parents must learn to do is prioritize the truly important things, and try to give a little bit more on peripheral issues.

One time that this is really put to the test is during special occasions, when both parents and possibly new romantic partners may be in attendance. Certain events, weddings, graduations, birthdays etc. only happen once, so most would agree that it’s better to put your best foot forward and try to endure being in the presence of an ex than to miss out on an important milestone.

Oftentimes the tone is already set during divorce and child custody negotiations, so co-parents should keep that in mind before things get too ugly. If you are a parent, odds are you will have to see your ex again.

Source: The Huffington Post, “4 Ways To Co-Parent More Successfully After Divorce,” Rosalind Sedacca, April 20, 2013.