It’s unrealistic to expect two households to fully agree on rules, discipline, and consequences — and a custodial parent shouldn’t expect the other home to enforce the same restrictions.

When possible, let a punishment finish before a visitation exchange, so the child and other parent can enjoy their time together. If that’s not practical, let the other parent know what happened and ask for their support with an appropriate response in their own home — but recognize a punishment that works in one house (no internet) may be meaningless in the other.

Favor consequences that don’t require constant enforcement from you: taking away a privilege, having a child do a chore, or a related task tends to work better than something you have to police all day.

Discipline still matters as a single parent — letting misbehavior slide to avoid conflict with your co-parent doesn’t help your child, and consistent discipline actually supports a healthier co-parenting relationship over time.