When a divorce takes place in Florida, one of the most pressing issues to resolve is custody of the children. While in some cases each spouse may feel more qualified than the other, most courts prefer a timesharing plan, in which the children alternate between parents. In fact, according to helpguide.org, timesharing provides many emotional benefits for children whose parents have divorced. First, children learn how to deal with conflict and disagreement when they see their parents cooperating to create a joint parenting plan. They also benefit from the emotional stability of consistent contact with each parent, rather than potentially feeling rejected by one or the other.
However, timesharing isn’t always easy. Adjusting to the new routine of sharing the children between two households may become complicated, but Parents suggests several tips to make the new arrangement less difficult. While it may seem impossible at times, cooperation between parents is essential. The process of parenting jointly but separately begins even while choosing a timesharing plan. This includes discussing each parent’s schedule as well as the children’s routines in order to settle on an arrangement that works for everyone. It is also important to decide on a dependable means of communicating with the other parent and to be willing to alter the plan if it is not working for the children.
Most importantly, the timesharing schedule should be based on the children’s needs above the parents’ desires. Divorce is often an unstable time for young ones, and they need stability during those difficult months and years. The children’s ages and preferences may determine whether regular transition throughout the week would be better, or if longer periods of time will help establish more stability. The plan that is chosen should be for the goal of providing significant time with each parent in a stable and accepting environment.
