What is co-parenting?

Co-parenthood defines the sharing of the rights and responsibilities of both father and mother in the care of their children.

A child has the right to maintain a normal relationship with his or her parents, even if they are divorced, separated or even if they simply and deliberately want to have a child together in order to become parents without necessarily falling in love with each other or simply because they want to remain single.

The adult undertakes to be the parent out of respect for his or her child, to protect him or her and to perform the normal duties just like he or she would in a traditional couple. Co-parents therefore share the rights over their child.

It appeared in our society a few years ago and is now reaching more and more people. It can be unexpected (divorces…) or requested and desired (a single woman or a single man wishing to remain single or a homosexual couple).

In fact, more and more women and men are interested in co-parenting with a co-father or a co-mother.

 

Why do they choose this way of life? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages?

We could imagine making this decision after a love story that went wrong, when we want to build our little family but no longer want to worry about a partner. To be free.

We may also have not found love, be old enough to have a child before it is too late (for women there is the biological clock) or simply want to remain single because it is a way of life that suits us (having time for ourselves, for friends, for family, for dates, etc.).

There may also be homosexual couples who are looking to have a child while preserving the mother or father figure for the child and therefore create a family where there are 2 mothers or 2 fathers in co-parenthood.

Couples who want to have a child too (because of the infertility of a spouse), but this is also less common because in this case the infertile spouse often cannot find his or her place.

In short, the choices are as numerous as they are diverse and it is becoming more and more common for young people to choose co-parenting.

 

So, what are the advantages of co-parenting?

Having a co-parenting arrangement implies that you are single and therefore you have about 50% (depending on what you have agreed with each other) of your time for yourself.

This means you can enjoy your friends, your dates, your freedom and your free time. You also have your child and all the love you have for him/her and the precious moments you share which are truly a bliss…

A privileged relationship with the mother of your child. A lifelong complicity and friendship is mandatory. In other words, a lot of advantages, love and freedom for the co-parents.

Of course, there are also disadvantages.

 

So, what are the disadvantages of co-parenting?

 

The willingness to have a child with, in most cases, a stranger or a friend, implies having a perfect vision of the future with the chosen co-parent and agreeing on the time for sharing with the child, however, it also implies having a minimum of common ground and common values on education and other matters, so that you can be as close as possible to your co-parent. After all, a bad choice can turn into a nightmare later on.

 

For that you can consult our article on how to succeed with your co-parenting.

 

In conclusion, co-parenting has many advantages and can also have disadvantages in some cases if you do not choose the right co-parent.

 

Nevertheless, the adventure is truly intense to experience so enjoy your life and live your parenting to the fullest as well as your life.