Consistency is essential for children, especially the youngest kids who thrive on routine, a schedule, and rule reinforcement. It’s necessary for divorced parents to recognize the importance of parenting time consistency and make every effort to deliver for their kids, even when the family has been split into two households.
Get It in Writing
If your marriage ends during the school year, your children already have a schedule in place. Going back and forth between households, however, can put a kink in how things operate. Different bedtimes, mealtimes, types of meals, exposure to different people, screen time, and more can vary depending on which parent the child is with. If you and your ex disagree on these matters, you will want to spell out what you wish for in your parenting time place with the help of your Michigan divorce lawyer.
Focus on the Kids
If you deviate from established parenting time schedules and expectations, the people who suffer most in this situation are your kids. You may want to spite your ex by returning tired, sugared-up kids after your time with them, but do your best to refrain. Confusing minor children with stricter or more lax rules than your ex only pits you against each other and your children will notice that there is yet one more fracture in your relationship beyond the divorce itself.
Communicate
When you have children with someone, they are in your life for at least 18 years. When you get divorced, you will be sharing your children. In your once-shared household you had a larger say in how your ex operated where the kids were concerned, but in their solo household your voice doesn’t hold the same weight, even if your kids insist on keeping things consistent. If you need support in establishing parenting time consistency with your ex, mediation may be of help.
Take Legal Action
How you share responsibilities and make decisions for your children post-divorce are established in a parenting time plan. This is a working and binding legal document. If your ex does not follow the elements you’ve agreed upon, you have a right to request changes to the plan so your children are not unfairly impacted by your ex’s behavior. Your Michigan divorce lawyer is prepared to help adjust a parenting time document and file a motion on your behalf with the court.
Rely on Your Michigan Divorce Lawyer
Coming to terms with different parenting methods is not easy and developing parenting time consistency is even more challenging. In fact, it can be downright infuriating to think that your ex has given in where you are strict, or vice versa. Your kids may be confused about who to listen to or feel negatively toward both parents because of how they’ve been put in the middle.
Divorce is never easy, and ushering your children through your divorce is even more difficult. Contact Michigan Divorce Help in Mt. Clemens, MI, to schedule your consultation and discover how to feel better about the process ahead.
This blog post is not a substitute for legal advice.