The youngest members of a family often go through upheaval and experience emotional duress during a divorce. To provide as much continuity of lifestyle as possible and offer security during a time of transition, Connecticut parents may try a co-parenting approach to their child custody arrangement. This offers a child access to both parents, which is a positive step, but it requires regular, open and honest communication between parents to make this type of arrangement work well.
Parents often underestimate how their actions can impact their children. This is true during divorce, but it remains true long after the process is final. Peaceful and thoughtful communication can reduce the stress and sense of disruption that children may experience. There is a direct correlation between parents’ communication and a child’s mental health and well-being.
When negative communication, such as disparaging comments and complaints about the other parent, can cause a child to feel like he or she is caught between the two. Supportive communication and upholding the other parent’s role in the life of the child can actually make post-divorce life easier for the entire family. It may help to remember that the goal of any custody plan is the best interests of the child above all else.
Child custody issues after a divorce are not easy to navigate, especially if there are lingering hard feelings between two Connecticut parents. However, they can still commit to making co-parenting work well by keeping their kids’ emotional and mental health as a priority. The key to peaceful co-parenting is good communication.