It goes without saying that every parent has the responsibility of caring for their child. However, it is also common for once-married Parties to encounter conflicts while trying to fulfil their co-parenting duties.
Hence, it is recommended that Parties attend counselling to figure out ways to co-parent effectively. In this article, we will explore the concept of parental responsibility, as well as how counselling can help both Parties succeed in their new co-parenting roles.
Parental Responsibility
This concept relates to how Parties are to care for their child. This is statutorily enshrined in section 46(1) of the Women’s Charter 1961, which is reproduced as follows:
“Upon the solemnisation of marriage, the husband and the wife are mutually bound to cooperate with each other in safeguarding the interests of the union and in caring and providing for the children.”
It is clear from the excerpt above that both parents are to work together in caring and providing for their child. This means that both Parties should cooperate with one another in terms of:
- Protecting their child from harm and providing a safe environment.
- Financially supporting their child and ensuring their basic needs are met.
- Making decisions that pertain to their child’s medical care, education and religious choices.
- Supervising and raising their child.
The aforementioned pointers are not an exhaustive list of what parental responsibility entails. Rather, this is intended to illustrate what is expected from parents. It is worth noting that parental responsibility is not an option, and is imposed by the law even after divorce.
Why Counselling May Be Required
In most cases, both parents would be genuinely concerned with the best interests and well-being of their child. Despite this, Parties are likely to get into disagreements over how to co-parent successfully.
Often, there is no particular “right” way to parent and raise a child. As such, each Party may have their own distinct ideas of what would be “best” for their child. When parents cannot see eye-to-eye, it would then be helpful to attend counselling for co-parenting.
The key benefits of co-parenting counselling are listed as follows:
- Learn to understand that there are multiple valid styles of parenting
- The counsellor will help both Parties understand each other’s parenting perspectives.
- It is in the best interests of the child for both Parties to attend counselling with the objective of learning how to co-parent effectively.
- Positively benefit Parties’ child
- Instead of expending precious time and energy on conflicts, Parties will be able to channel their efforts more productively towards supporting their child.
- This can be achieved when Parties engage in co-parenting counselling with the aim of finding a particular parenting style that both of them can agree to use.
- This would prevent Parties from confusing their child, who would otherwise struggle to adapt to the incoherence of two distinct parenting styles.
- Improve Parties’ communication
- Through gaining insight into the other parent’s perspective, Parties will better understand each other’s priorities and concerns.
- By discussing and arriving at a consensus on how to raise their child, Parties will consequently resolve points of contention and improve their post-marital communications.
While it may be instinctive to dismiss counselling for co-parenting as unnecessary, its benefits should not be taken lightly. It is important to understand that when parents argue, the one who ultimately suffers the most is their child.
Since attending co-parenting counselling will bring about greater clarity and guidance, Parties should strongly consider seeking such services – if not for themselves, then for their child’s sake.
Finding a Parenting Counsellor
To make co-parenting work in the long term, parents are encouraged to attend co-parenting counselling, even after the prescribed sessions organised by the Family Courts. The appointment of a private Parenting Counsellor helps parents iron out thorny issues and provides a listening ear and check-in for parents.
