Covid-19: Head of mediation clarifies the position of co-parents during lockdown
PARKWOOD – Bisset advises co-parents to be kind to their children, the other parent and themselves during this stressful period.
Update.
According to Family Life Centre, co-holders of parental rights and responsibilities may now exercise contact in terms of a court order or registered parenting plan.
This comes after new regulations were published on 7 April.
According to a statement by Family Life Centre, there are conditions attached to this new regulation. Parents must have the court order or parenting plan, or a certified copy of such, with them when travelling to exercise contact.
“They must be sure that no person in the other household has tested positive for Covid-19, nor has any person in the other household come into contact with a person who has tested positive for Covid-19, nor are there any persons in the other household reasonably suspected of having contracted the virus,” said a statement from the centre.
The centre in Parkwood added that the safety of children was paramount and parents should exercise great caution.
3 April:
Government has clarified the position of co-parents during the lockdown period.
According to head of mediation at the Family Life Centre in Parkwood, Trudi Bisset, children may not move between homes during the lockdown.
Though this was a controversial topic among divorced parents before lockdown, Bisset said, “Children must remain where they were at the commencement of lockdown. Other means of communication, such as Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp video call and the like can be used to communicate with the child, where possible, given the age of the child.”
Bisset said it was the responsibility of the parent who had the child with him/her to talk to the child about Covid-19, the temporary lockdown and managing the situation in an age-appropriate manner.
“These are difficult and stressful times for all of us. It is an international health emergency. Be kind to your children, the other parent and yourself.
“Lost contact can always be made up. The school year will have to be rethought, and accordingly, so will contact schedules. Be reasonable, be flexible, and consider the best for your children.”
Bisset said managing children while parents were trying to work from home was not easy. “The parent who does not have residency during this lockdown could perhaps support the other parent during this tricky time.”
She said children needed love and support during this time. “The last thing they need is conflict and combat. Reassure them that this is not forever.”
Parents who cannot negotiate the changes between themselves were welcome to contact mediation@familylife.co.za for mediation assistance.
If children or parents are battling to cope, online counselling is available at Family Life Centre. For more information email intake@familylife.co.za
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