Divorcing when you have children can be a challenge because everyone involved has to learn how to adjust to new circumstances. That can become more difficult if you have to move away from your child or if they move away from you.
Because every situation is different, it’s up to you to figure out what works for you and your children. These tips may be a good place to start determining the most effective approaches for your circumstances.
Set a realistic schedule
When you’re long-distance parenting, you need a schedule to have video chats or phone calls with your child. This has to be set based on their schedule, which is especially important if you’re in different time zones. You also have to think about the schedule for in-person parenting time.
Use technology to your advantage
Technology can make it much easier to stay in contact with your children even when you aren’t physically close. Video chats, emails, text messages and similar options make it fairly easy to remain in contact. Don’t limit these options to just simple conversations. Instead, use these options to read bedtime stories, play games together, help them with homework or watch a movie. The key is to find ways to connect with the children in a way that you and them enjoy.
Don’t neglect in-person time
Even though you can connect with your children using technology, it’s critical to still have the in-person connection. It might not be possible for the children to visit you often, especially if the distance is considerable, such as if a flight is necessary for travel. In that case, you may consider going to the children if you have the ability. Of course, you should ensure your ex approves of the visits, particularly if they aren’t built into the parenting time schedule.
Having your parenting plan tailored to your circumstances is going to be beneficial. It should address issues such as communication and a parenting time schedule that enables the children to have a meaningful relationship with both parents. Having legal assistance to ensure that your parenting plan addresses all relevant concerns may help to reduce the stress of this transition to a significant extent.
