Being a single parent after a divorce can be difficult, but it is worth getting used to if it means being happier in life. Having joint custody can be a challenge, and the children can ultimately be the ones who feel the strain the most. Families in Texas that know what to do when having to split custody can make the situation less of a challenge and more of an experience.
Some parents unfortunately think that, after a divorce, they should scrub and cleanse the house that their ex-spouse once lived in like it is an infectious place to be. There are also parents that may talk about all the problems and issues that went on in the marriage that led up to the divorce. For the children in the middle of a joint custody situation, this can be upsetting and confusing to them. Having two households to go back and forth between can also be difficult for children to deal with.
Children who grow up in two households may need to be reminded that both parents understand that the need for distance and closeness with each parent will change as they mature into adulthood. Making the change from one household to two can be easier on the children involved if the parents are civil. Just because the parents are no longer married does not mean that they are not both still equally the child’s family.
Having joint custody really does not need to be a bad experience for the parents or the children. Taking the time to do things in a more civil manner, and keeping the children as a first priority in both homes, can lessen the stress and difficulty of getting divorced in Texas. Getting the divorce may make the parents happier, but the children should also be kept as happy and comfortable as possible with the changes that accompany joint custody.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Because We Both Love You” — New Year’s Resolutions for Divorced Parents, Kate Scharff, Dec. 30, 2013