Today it seems like there’s an app for just about everything – including parents raising their children together after divorce. Whether you need a place to store all of your child’s important documents and events or are on shaky grounds with your ex and want to keep things as neutral as possible, different co-parenting apps can meet your specific needs. Here are a few different features of co-parenting apps that can improve how you co-parent with your ex-spouse:
Sync your calendars
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of joint custody is keeping both parents in the loop regarding their child’s schedule. Whether it be doctor’s appointments, playdates, after-school activities or managing drop-off and pick-up times, it can be all too easy for parents not to be on the same page.
Many co-parenting apps aim to eliminate the scheduling conflicts of shared custody by syncing you and your ex’s calendar in one place. Using these apps, you can also request schedule changes or add events to your calendar without speaking directly with your ex.
Share important documents
Have you ever found yourself panicking after realizing your child left their homework at the other parent’s house, or that your ex has the physical copy of an important document that you need? Co-parenting apps take the stress out of these moments by providing a platform for you to upload and share vital information with your ex in a safe location.
Communicate peacefully
Sometimes the hardest part of co-parenting is communicating productively and peacefully with your ex-spouse. After all, old conflicts don’t just disappear after your divorce is final. If your ex is flaky or challenging to get ahold of, co-parenting apps offer features such as read receipts, so you know if and when your ex reads your message.
If keeping your communications peaceful is an ongoing struggle, some co-parenting apps actually provide a feature that recognizes hostile or negative language and recommends a better way to say it. You can essentially keep in touch with your ex while mitigating the risk of nasty arguments or tension.
If you are navigating the trials of co-parenting, co-parenting apps are excellent tools for maintaining peace and stability for your children after divorce. But remember, these apps are only helpful if both parents commit to using them.
