Advice For Divorced Parents Regarding Teacher Conferences

How To Avoid Harming Your Childs Future Education and Well Being

Most parents know that parent/teacher conferences are a great way for them to learn about theirchilds daily activities in school, whether the child is doing well and if their child needs help at home.But what happens in families in which there is a divorce or a pending divorce? What steps can theparents take to avoid conflict and not harm their child?

Brian James, president of C.E.L. & Associates, a certified mediator who specializes in pre and postdivorce issues has this advice. Your childs teacher should be the first one informed that there is apending divorce or if a divorce has just occurred. Your child spends more time in school thananywhere else, and this situation might have a negative affect on your child, he says.

If the parents are cordial to each other, they can attend parent/teacher conferences together. Thatway, both parents can hear the same information and ask questions regarding their childs education,James points out. If only one parent attends, the other one is left in the dark. Unfortunately, in mostdivorce situations, this is exactly what happens.

More often than not, sitting together with a teacher is virtually impossible due to the antagonisticand negative vibes radiating from each parent. This makes the teacher uncomfortable-and in thishostile atmosphere- you may not receive all the information you need to know as a parent about yourchilds academic achievements or non-achievements.

Therefore, Mr. James has some advice on how divorced parents should handle teacher/parentconferences.

Make sure the teacher notifies both parents what days and what times are available for conferences.

Each parent should schedule individual conference time with the teacher. Because conference timesand days are limited, one parent may need to meet the teacher at a different time and day. This willalleviate divorced parents from having to be together, but at the same time, allow them equal timewith the teacher. This results in each parent learning the same information about their child.

If only one parent can attend the conference, take notes. Even if you and your ex arent on speakingterms, sending him or her notes about the conference and the teacher is in the best interest of yourchild. Both of you need to be on the same page regarding your childs education.

If the teacher cant schedule two separate in-person meeting times with the parents due to a lack oftime, as an alternative, ask for a phone conference time. Most teachers will comply with thisrequest.

No matter how much you and your ex dislike each other and want nothing to do with one another,you still have a child you need to parent together, he emphasizes. School is where children learn. Ifthe two of you arent on the same page regarding the childs current education, then you are bothunnecessarily harming your childs future education and well being.

In his private practice, Mr. James focuses on keeping the childrens best interests at the forefront ofthe medication process. He sees clients in Barrington, Chicagos Loop and South Side, Crystal Lake,

Downers Grove, Highwood, Libertyville, Lake Villa, Naperville, Park Ridge and Skokie as well assouthern Wisconsin and schedules meetings that are convenient for his clients.