Children thrive on stability and routines, so a divorce with shared custody can disrupt their lives and force them to rotate houses on a regular basis. It’s likely to have been particularly hard on your teen to adapt to these kinds of changes.
You can take steps to help lessen the impact that traveling between their parents’ homes has on your teens. Here are some tips:
Work with your co-parent to create a sense of continuity between homes
Parents can help minimize the stress transitioning between homes has on their teens by getting on the same page when it comes to schedules and house rules. It’s best to set the same time aside for your child to get their homework done, curfew and bedtime. You should also put up a united front in terms of the chores or tasks you require your child to complete before they can hang out with their friends, play video games or engage in other leisurely activities.
Remember that your teen emulates you
Kids think of their parents as role models no matter how old they are. You should keep in mind that if they see you raising your voice, getting aggressive or otherwise exhibiting poor communication skills with their other parent, then they’re likely to think it’s okay to mimic those same behaviors when interacting with you. Situations like these can drive a wedge between you and your child.
Have a family meeting about the plan
You and your Florida ex may find it helpful to sit down and discuss your parenting styles and priorities to get on the same page. You’ll then want to meet with your child to go over how you plan to manage things given the new custodial arrangement. This gives your teen a chance to express their feelings and can help them feel heard.
A family law attorney in Daytona Beach can help you broker such agreements if you and your co-parent aren’t able to come to clear terms on your own.