Child custody can sometimes come with conflict. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to handle conflicts that involve your children, and it’s common to see both parents lashing out at each other while trying to protect their little ones.
As a parent, you need to understand that your wishes are separate from the best wishes of your child. They may not be the same, and the other parent may have positive intentions as well. For example, you might think the best thing for your child is living with you, but the other parent might think it’s living with them. The judge, on the other hand, may believe a split-custody arrangement is a better situation for your child. What works for one person won’t necessarily be the best option for the group, so it’s important to work out a plan that is in everyone’s best interests.
What should you do if you don’t approve of your ex-spouse’s proposed custody schedule?
While some people might immediately reject the schedule, the better thing to do is to sit down with it and review it closely. Which parts do you agree with, if any? Which parts do you believe you could live with, even if the arrangements aren’t ideal? By finding the positives of the proposal, you’ll have somewhere to start with negotiations and be able to propose your own schedule based on some of the preferences the other parent has.
Put your child first in any custody situation. Your child is the one who will be between homes, and you should both work to make that as comfortable as possible.
