coparents
Joint child raisers
Coparents are two people who share parenting responsibilities for a child, typically after divorce or separation.
The term emphasizes cooperative child-rearing despite the parents no longer being romantically involved: The coparents agreed to alternate weeks with the kids.
It also applies to unmarried couples who have children together, or to arrangements where friends or relatives share parenting duties.
Put or kept apart
- divorcedLegally ended marriage
- stepparentsNon-biological parental figures
- amicablePeacefully cooperative in manner
- estrangedSeparated by emotional distance
reconciled · unmarried · split · custodial · non-custodial · baby-mama · baby-daddy · civil
Protective care or control
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- schedulePlan of timed events
- agreementShared position between parties
- handoffsDirect exchanges between people
exchanges · pickups · dropoffs · overnights · holidays · weekends · summer · rotation
Young human offspring
- childrenYoung human beings
- offspringBiological descendants produced
- dependentsPeople financially supported
- minorsThose below legal age
toddlers · teenagers · well-being · adjustment · stability · routines · consistency · transitions
Organized cooperative movement
- updatesNewly provided information
- check-insArrival confirmations
- messagingSending written digital communications
- notificationsAutomated messages announcing events
boundaries · respectful · business-like · parallel · documentation · records · transparency · responsiveness
Professional guidance for problems
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
- copingManaging under strain
- self-careMaintaining personal wellbeing
boundaries · empathy · patience · flexibility · grief · acceptance · healing
Trial venue or sports surface
- lawyerLicensed legal representative
- mediatorNeutral conflict resolver
- alimonyCourt-ordered post-divorce payments
- modificationAct of altering something
enforcement · jurisdiction · contempt · filing · decree · settlement · stipulation · termination
separated
Put or kept apart
- divorcedLegally ended marriage
- stepparentsNon-biological parental figures
- amicablePeacefully cooperative in manner
estranged · reconciled · unmarried · split · custodial · non-custodial · baby-mama · baby-daddy · civil · cordial
custody
Protective care or control
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- schedulePlan of timed events
- agreementShared position between parties
handoffs · exchanges · pickups · dropoffs · overnights · holidays · weekends · summer · rotation · fifty-fifty
kids
Young human offspring
- childrenYoung human beings
- offspringBiological descendants produced
- dependentsPeople financially supported
minors · toddlers · teenagers · well-being · adjustment · stability · routines · consistency · transitions · resilience
coordination
Organized cooperative movement
- updatesNewly provided information
- check-insArrival confirmations
- messagingSending written digital communications
notifications · boundaries · respectful · business-like · parallel · documentation · records · transparency · responsiveness · conflict-resolution
counseling
Professional guidance for problems
self-care · boundaries · empathy · patience · flexibility · grief · acceptance · healing
court
Trial venue or sports surface
- lawyerLicensed legal representative
- mediatorNeutral conflict resolver
- alimonyCourt-ordered post-divorce payments
modification · enforcement · jurisdiction · contempt · filing · decree · settlement · stipulation · termination · paternity
coparentssingle parent
Unpartnered mother or father
custodial parent · solo parent · primary caregiver · single mother · single father
coparentsabsent parent
Caretaker not in child's life
estranged parent · noncustodial parent · absent father · absent mother