Child custody and visitation are often two of the most important aspects involved in a New Jersey divorce case. Whether you are a parent who is going through the process of bringing your marriage to an end or if you have already moved on to a new life after your settlement, creating a post-divorce environment for your children to remain happy and thrive is probably at the top of your priority list. Fortunately, there are some measures you can implement to increase the odds of making this a reality.
Since the majority of child custody arrangements allow both parents to remain active in the lives of their children, establishing an efficient means of co-parenting can prove invaluable to all parties involved. By implementing the following steps, you could help ease any potential tension between yourself and your former partner, reduce the odds of emotional issues involving your children from arising, and strengthen the connection between your children and both parents:
- Create a co-parenting schedule: If you and your former partner are able to utilize a monthly calendar, it can eliminate a substantial amount of uncertainty from the equation, especially for your children.
- Establish boundaries: Providing clarity upfront regarding sensitive topics, such as how frequent you and the other parent should typically be in contact, what other individuals you will allow around your children, and how to best handle birthdays and holidays, can eliminate some possible issues of contention.
- Make weekly check-ins the norm: Setting a weekly time where you and the other parent can discuss the aspects of your children’s daily lives can allow for any needed change of plans.
- Restrain any urge to badmouth the other parent in your children’s presence: This can cause your children to feel a high level of stress and prevent them from telling you about everything they do with your former partner.
- Focus on self-care when your time allows: Utilizing self-care activities to relieve stress and refresh yourself both physically and mentally in times when you don’t have your children can boost your mood and energy levels both in the short- and long-term.
Whether you need help creating a workable co-parenting plan, or if the situation arises for the need to change an existing child custody arrangement, there is professional support and guidance readily available to you. An experienced New Jersey family law attorney can answer all your questions and concerns, explore all your possible legal options and work diligently toward achieving the best outcome possible for your unique situation.