Call Us Now
Email Us Now
When a marriage ends, everyone has to make adjustments. One household becomes two separate households where the children will spend time. For many Michigan parents, one of the hardest of those adjustments is sharing physical custody of the children, even with the knowledge that the arrangements negotiated by the couple were made with the happiness of the children the first priority.
One of the realities of a Michigan divorce is that the children need to spend time with both parents, which if the focus of most parenting plans. This always leaves one parent without the children at some point. How each parent feels about this may vary in intensity, but the feeling of loss can be overwhelming.
In addition to missing their children, some parents feel guilty if they enjoy themselves while the children are with the other parent. Over time, however, each parent may find ways to embrace the time their children are away. Children need both of their parents, and there is nothing wrong with a parent living his or her life while the other parent is spending time with the children.
Conversely, each parent has the chance to make the most of the time he or she has with the children. There could be times when one parent will be unable to exercise his or her visitation. Being flexible could not only improve the post-divorce relationship between the parents, but also give that parent more time with the children.
Being a parent is challenging enough when both parents are in the same home. Sharing physical custody of the children essentially creates two single parents. Working out a parenting plan that gives the children the best of each parent is the goal of many couples and is often a primary focus of child custody negotiations. Over time, the parents and the children can adjust to this new way of life without guilt and with the knowledge that both parents are doing their best to continue to be there for the children after the divorce.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Coping with Divorce: When Your Kids are With Your Ex and You’re Home Alone“, Jackie Pilossoph, May 19, 2014