Co-Parenting and Custody After Divorce

What if the kids don’t want to go to the other parent’s house?

Photo by Cindy Tang on Unsplash

Even before I officially separated from my ex, I thought about child custody arrangements. The idea of being away from my kids for any time at all was painful for me — I’m a homeschooling, work-from-home mum and had been with them pretty much 24/7 up until then. But I’d read the research and because of it, I knew I had to put my feelings aside and do what was best for my kids.

I suggested custody arrangements that were as close to 50/50 as my ex could manage with work. He’s a good dad and I believed it was important for my kids to feel they had a family with two parents who loved them and wanted to spend time with them — even if it was in two separate houses.

Joint physical custody is definitely an option to consider; it’s my preferred option for cooperative parents. But it’s only one of many options that can work for divorced parents and for children. Robert Emery, Ph.D.

As long as both parents are competent and positive for the children, 50/50 (or close to it) is ideal. It’s better for the kids if they have lots of access to both parents, and it means both…