Everyday co-parenting in a polymedia environment

In this paper we analyse “interconnected communication sequences” between Professional Foster Parents (PFPs) and Birth Parents (BPs) in family-style group care. Interconnected communication sequences are coherent sequences constructed by participants by use of multiple communication media.

In family-style group care, children live with PFPs and regularly visit their BPs, which implies PFPs and BPs share the care for children. This co-parenting relationship is important in supporting the quality of contact between child and parents, which is essential for the child’s development and wellbeing. However, a harmonious co-parenting relationship is difficult to achieve and maintain.

To gain more insight in the intricacies of the complex PFP-BP relationship, we examine unfolding PFP-BP contact. Specifically, we examine two cases of instant messaging followed by a telephone call between PFPs and BPs. Our analysis disentangles how through text messaging PFPs and BPs propose to call for a particular reason and plan a call at an appropriate moment for both parties, and how they re-establish mutual availability in the call opening and collaboratively re-invoke the reason for calling. The negotiation of when to talk about what and how proves to be infused with relationship work and thereby instantiates some of the sensitivities of “co-parenting” in family-style group care.

With our empirical analysis of everyday interconnected polymedia communication in different modalities (instant messaging and telephone interaction) in family-style group care, we aim to contribute to knowledge of interactional practices in the field of social work.