No matter why a couple decides to divorce, the process can be challenging for a variety of reasons. While couples have to decide how to divide their assets and need to determine who will remain in the marital home, they will also have to make child custody arrangements if they share children. In many Texas divorces, both parents want to maintain their parental rights once the divorce is final. This is why it is usually best to come up with an established parenting plan that is ideal for all parties involved.
Factors to consider
If you’re trying to come up with a child custody plan, there are several factors to think about. You’ll need to think about the physical, social, and emotional needs of your children and provide a sense of normalcy for them. This is why many divorced couples choose a 50/50 parenting schedule if possible since this allows the children to spend ample time with both of their parents.
While most people think of a 50/50 custody plan as an arrangement where the children spend one week with one parent and the following week with the other parent, this may not be ideal for the children. The schedule is easy to create but may cause separation anxiety for children.
Customizing your parenting plan
If children go a week without seeing one of their parents, they may start to feel detached from that parent which can lead to feelings of uncertainty. This is especially true for younger children who have a strong attachment to either parent.
If you and your ex-spouse are on good terms, customizing your parenting schedule could include daily calls or video chats with your child during the weeks they are with the other parent. Depending on your family dynamic, you may even want to schedule an outing or dinner where both you and your ex and present with the children. Observing your children’s behavior and talking to them about their feelings can help you create parenting arrangements that work for your family.