A concern for New York parents who get divorced is how to continue raising their children in a loving, supportive manner. They worry about their children’s reactions when the parents are no longer living together. One of the options that has been viewed as a positive, fair way to deal with this is shared custody.
Why do courts order shared custody?
Judges order shared custody because they that it is the most beneficial option in most situations. There is a belief that this is in the best interest of the child and that it promotes healthy, supportive relationships between parents and children.
What challenges do children face when their parents share custody?
When parents enter into a shared custody agreement, the children end up having two different locations to live in, splitting their time evenly between one parent and then the other. This can be both challenging and disruptive to the children. Children will need to learn to deal and negotiate with parents separately and might find themselves dividing their time between two situations with different rules and expectations.
How can children be negatively affected by shared custody?
Some children living in shared child custody arrangements can experience situations that threaten their emotional stability. These negative effects can include:
- Developing anxiety from having to deal with two very different personalities
- Feeling insecure about not pleasing both parents equally
- Being forced to take on a caretaking role with at least one parent to fulfill the emotional needs of that parent
- Experiencing depression from the constant changes to their life
While not all shared custody situations result in negative impacts for the children, parents need to work closely together to figure out what fits for their family and is truly in the best interest of the children. With the help of their attorneys, parents can collaborate to create a parenting plan that focuses on supporting their children and providing an emotionally stable environment.