Fathers often feel that they are singled out in the court system as being “the bad parent.” Sometimes this is true. Most of the time it is not.
Here are some simple ways to combine being a great parent with pleasing a family law judge if you ever end up in court:
- Always speak well of the other parent to your children.
- Always speak well of the other parent to everyone else, even if you don’t personally feel that way.
- Be present for everything. Find a way.
- As early in your child’s life as possible, try to equally parent, even if you must give up other financial items.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you need to give in on money or property issues now in order to be an equal parent, you will not regret it.
The pandemic has created a great deal of fear, virtually all of it rational and well placed. Exposing children to two households is challenging enough, but when you then have to deal with a parent who wants to create play dates and trips, it gets more complicated.
Utilizing all of the resources available to you is the key. Counselors and therapists can often educate parents about minimizing risk in both households. Speaking to an experienced divorce attorney helps to create options. Mediators can step in and assist you. In the most serious of cases, the courts are open.
Train yourself, and the other parent, early on to communicate with each other. Consult child counselors for advice, enlist attorneys for the drafting of documents, and stay far away from the courts!
Being the better parent can hurt, it really can. But look past that and make sure the other parent has every opportunity to be just as good of a parent as you are.
When your child is grown and looks back on his or her childhood and thanks you for creating a peaceful environment of two loving respectful households, you will be glad for the advice.
Milstein Siegel can help you. Call us at (410) 792-2300 or fill out the form on this page to request additional information.