When Michigan parents get divorced, the children may split time between both of their homes. While this situation can work, particularly if both parents still live close to each other, younger children may have difficulty adjusting to two different households. One way divorced parents can make the transition easier for the children is to reach an agreement on house rules.
By having the same rules between both households, the kids may feel more stable during this time of transition. Further, the children also know what to expect regardless of where they are staying. Parents who cannot work together and change the house rules just to spite the other can cause harm to the children and even damage their relationships with both parents.
However, creating consistency can sometimes be difficult for parents who just finalized a contentious divorce. If working out a set of house rules that both parents abide by does not work, parents may benefit from working with a mediator who can guide the discussion and keep the two parents on track. If negotiating rules with the help of a mediator fails, the parents could also go to court. It should be noted, however, that once the case goes to court, parents lose all control over the final decisions regarding the children.
While research has shown that children often benefit the most when they have both parents in their lives, it can be difficult for some divorced parents to move on. If the other parent refuses to work with the changing needs of the children, including schedule changes, Oakland County child custody lawyers could go back to court on behalf of a parent whose parenting schedule no longer works. In some cases, this could result in a modification to the child custody order.