Divorced parents often have to find a new way of navigating parenting in a new reality. Divorce can be difficult on everyone, especially children who need to know their parents still love and care for them. Each parent’s parenting style can be unique, but divorced Wisconsin parents must have the best interests of their children at heart.
When a child is with one parent and not the other, the parent with whom the child is spending time has the say on what the rules should be in his or her household. A former spouse typically cannot tell the other parent what the children can or cannot do when they are in the other parent’s care. If one parent complains about it, the other — experts say — should try to disengage from the conversation.
No matter what parenting style an individual adopts, it’s crucial never to put a child in the middle of a disagreement. A child should never have to choose between parents or forced to take a side. Parents must watch how they speak about each other when their children are present.
It’s difficult for children to transition between homes. Divorce is life-changing, but it doesn’t have to be negative. When parents have a co-parenting plan in place it may help them to be civil to each other and respect the differences between their parenting styles. Behaving maturely with a former spouse with whom one shares a child is not only best for the former couple, but also best for their children.
