Some of the hardest struggles in divorce occur after the marriage dissolves, especially when children are involved. Changes in child custody can be traumatic for children and parents, as the separation can be emotionally devastating. Learning ways to cope with the change is essential for the mental health of parents and children.
Helping Your Children Adjust
For children, a change in custody can be earth-shaking, as one of the constants in their young lives changes. For non-custodial parents, staying as active and involved in your children’s lives as possible will help them adjust to the change. Letting them know that you’ll always be there for them will help reassure them during this time of transition.
If you’re a non-custodial parent, making the time you have with your children as meaningful as possible can help ease the transition. Try to arrange your schedule so that when you have your children, you can focus exclusively on them. This can be tough for parents with demanding work schedules, but finding at least a little time to spend with your children making memories and having one-on-one time can do much to ease feelings of insecurity in them.
Coping with Being Separated from Your Children
Non-custodial parents may find themselves depressed or deeply distressed about being separated from their children. Finding ways to make the time you share with your children count can help with these feelings. Working with the non-custodial parent to get more time with your children can also help. Depending on the circumstances of your divorce and the personalities involved, this can be difficult, but over time many custodial parents come to see the value of allowing the non-custodial parent additional time with the children.
For custodial parents, allowing your children as much access to the non-custodial parent as possible can help ease the transition. Finding ways to put aside enmity from the divorce and focus on the well-being of the children can help them adjust to not seeing one of their parents every day. In cases where concerns about safety or suitability restrict a non-custodial parent’s access, the custodial parent needs to explain the situation to the child while avoiding disparagement of the other parent.
Custodial parents also face struggles in adjusting to having a larger share of the responsibility for their children. Work schedules and handling most of the work related to care of their children can be draining. Finding ways for the non-custodial parent to shoulder a little more of the burden can help, as can developing a network of family and other parents to provide support.
If possible, custodial and non-custodial parents should try to maintain sufficient civility so that they may attend important events like graduations, school activities, and some social occasions together with their children. This may not be possible in all situations, but, where it’s practical, it can help create a greater sense of security and stability for the children.
If you’re a parent in Nevada who has lost custody of your child or who has endured substantial changes in access to your child, consulting with an experienced Las Vegas custody lawyer can help you defend your rights and create a game plan for achieving a more satisfactory custody situation. Skilled custody lawyers know the law and can help ensure your rights to your children are protected, but you also must do your part to create a stable, wholesome environment for your children. With the right plan and the right attorney, you can establish a fair and equitable custody agreement.
The McFarling Law Group offers Nevada residents caring and experienced representation in divorce and family law cases. Emily McFarling is a veteran Las Vegas family law attorney who is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist and a recipient of the Pre-Eminent AV Rating. To schedule a consultation, call 702-565-4335.