Aug 21, 2014

Shared parenting is a term used to describe a joint custody arrangement for separated parents. Typically in shared parenting, the parents share roughly an equal amount of time with the dependent. There are some myths about shared parenting, that it’s unmanageable, it’s inconvenient, or it’s unfair to the child. Here is the real story about shared parenting.

Myth #1: It’s Not Practical

Some parents think that regular visits should be sufficient.  For the child, it’s more important for them to live with each parent so that there is a living-together relationship with both parents. This keeps the child’s relationships with each more normal and regular.

Some believe that it’s inconvenient, but most find that once an established routine has formed it’s actually beneficial. They can schedule work and personal time on the days they won’t have their child, which allows them to better enjoy the time they have when it’s their turn with their child and avoid child care costs.

Myth #2: The Child Suffers

Typically in a situation where one parent is the primary caregiver, the relationship between the child and the other parent will suffer. In the case of shared parenting, the child is getting equal time with both parents. The parent paying child support will now be able to use these funds more directly while the child is in their care as well.

Myth #3: It’s Unfair on the Parents and the Child

While it’s a difficult transition at first, the situation will be ideal for the child and the parents. No one will lose time with their child or with one parent over the other, which makes it very fair.

More separated parents are adopting this style of parenting which proves this is not impossible to pull off. As long as both parents are involved and cooperative, it can be the best solution in this scenario.

Parents must make the conscious decision to put the child’s needs first, even though their marital arrangement has ended.

While the old way of making custody arrangements typically resulted in one parent becoming the primary caregiver, the new ways of shared parenting just might be the new trend in the future.