How To Deal With Your Baby Mama Or Daddy

How a baby mama and baby daddy can be civil to each other for the sake of the child.

- Pheto Ramakobya

IN A world where baby mama and baby daddy drama is the norm, Move! speaks to a few social workers on how to deal with the drama. It has been said that there’s nothing as complicated as dealing with partners who making co-parenting a living nightmare and it can cause a lot of damage in your current relationship.

DEALING WITH THE DRAMA IN A SENSIBLE WAY

Pertunia Nkosi, a social worker at the Gauteng Provincial Government, explains to Move! how the law can assist you in figuring out a way to deal with the drama.

“According to the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, a father has parental responsibilities and rights in respect of his child. If talking to your baby mama and getting the family involved does not work, approach the Children’s Court to be assisted with getting access to the child,” says Pertunia.

“The help of a social worker or family advocate can be sought to assist with a parenting plan that will be agreed on by the parties to ensure the best interest of the child. It will then be made formal in writing, signed by both parties and registered or made a court order.”

She adds, “The act is clear, if the person in whose care the child is denies a person with parental responsibilities and rights access to the child or to exercise those responsibilities and rights, then that person is committing an offence and can be convicted for that.”

Kolobe Mushi, counselling social worker from The Family Life Centre (Famsa), states more ways of dealing with the drama.