COPING WITH CUSTODY CONFLICTS
If your child suddenly announces he or she wants to live with the other parent, don’t explode in anger. Ask why:
Perhaps the child is struggling in school and thinks a new one would be easier. Perhaps the other parent has remarried and isn’t spending enough time with your child. These types of problems often can be resolved without reworking custody arrangements.
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If your child insists on leaving and living with your
ex-spouse, avoid fighting about the issue in court. |
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If you, your ex and the child can’t sit down and work out
a solution, find a counselor or professional mediator to help you. |
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If you are a non-custodial parent and want to see your child
more, work that out with your ex--not the child. It can be emotionally
damaging for a child to get caught in the middle of such battles. |
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No matter how much you might dislike your ex, avoid using child custody as a weapon. Psychologists say kids do best when they see both parents frequently. And chances are better that your child will become a kind, rational adult if you and your former spouse treat each other kindly and rationally. |
Source: The Arizona Republic, September 1, 1996, p. E 1, Marlene Joy, Stacy Adler, and Penni Patterson.