Once parents in Virginia have reached an agreement about child custody, they may still have many years of co-parenting ahead of them. They should make an effort to communicate effectively and encourage the child to build a relationship with the other parent.
Communication does not mean they need to speak to one another regularly if this is not comfortable for them. Online tools can help divorced parents communicate, or they may agree to use text or email. Parents should avoid using their children to carry messages back and forth, and they should try to be flexible with the schedule they have agreed upon. While children need consistency, if one parent has something fun planned during the other parent’s time, that parent should allow the child to go if it is in the best interests of the child. Parents should also try to work together to create consistent rules and expectations between their households. This reduces stress for children.
One of the difficult aspects of divorce is that parents often miss their children’s significant moments. Parents can make an effort to share these with one another by taking a photo or sending a text to the other parent. Parents should also try to say positive things about one another and encourage each child’s relationship with the other parent.
Reaching an agreement on child custody during divorce can be a difficult process. In most cases, parents share legal custody, which gives them both the right to make decisions about a child’s religion, education and other important factors. They may also share physical custody, or one parent may have custody while the other parent has visitation rights. These visitation rights can be generous, and parents may be able to negotiate a schedule that works well for them without going to court.
