Parenting after divorce can be difficult, especially at back-to-school time. Whether your divorce was years ago or the split took place this summer, there are ways to work together with your former spouse to make the school year as peaceful as possible for both you and your child(ren). Here are six suggestions to make the school year go better:

1. Keep school contact forms up-to-date. Make sure that the school has contact information for both parents, including cell phone, work numbers, physical address and email addresses.

2. Make sure the school has a copy of the divorce judgment and instructions on who may pick up the child(ren).

3. Participate in school activities together as much as possible. Set aside your differences to make sure that both parents have access to needed information from the teacher, counselor, etc. If there are still problems between the two of you, notify the school so that suitable arrangements can me made to make the situation work for all involved.

4. Don’t make your child a messenger for you. Pick up the phone and communicate with your former spouse. If this is not possible, use email or text. Using the child(ren) as a go-between only increases stress and the probability that something will be forgotten.

5. Help with homework. Both parents have an obligation to make sure that school assignments are being completed. This can be difficult, especially when a big project is due on Monday and the child(ren) may not have the project completed before visitation with the non-custodial parent.

6. If there is a remarriage, do not list the new spouse as a parent. Indicate that the new spouse may pick up the child and talk with teachers, but do not indicate that s/he is a parent unless an adoption has occurred.