Studies have shown that children who are able to spend nearly equal time with both parents perform better academically, emotionally and behaviorally. As parents decide to divorce, however, this option may seem impossible for their children. Co-parenting or shared child custody agreements can allow children to see their parents for an almost equal amount of time. Divorcing parents in Georgia can find out more about these types of arrangements from legal professionals and through other resources.
Co-parenting is one form of child custody that provides children with quality time spent with each parent. This requires a great deal of cooperation between the parties as they work to agree on rules and things like extracurricular activities. Tension and hurt between the parents may make this agreement challenging, but not impossible.
It is important for the parties to remember that the children are not responsible for the divorce, and neither parent should speak poorly of the other parent in front of the kids. Insulting the other party or trying to make the child pick sides can cause the child to feel like he or she cannot have a relationship with both parents. In high-conflict divorces where the parents still choose to share child custody, it becomes even more crucial that they create a way to communicate in a more business-like manner with minimal conflict.
The tension and possible stress of a divorce, especially in those high-conflict cases, can make it incredibly difficult for two parties to work together in a child custody agreement. However, this arrangement plays a huge role in the lives of their children and should seek to meet their best interests first and foremost. Family law professionals in Georgia can provide assistance to divorcing couples as they work through this part of the divorce process.
Source: goodmenproject.com, “Successful Post-Divorce Parenting With a High-Conflict Ex -“, Terry Gaspard, May 13, 2016