Almost everyone in Florida and elsewhere makes a New Year’s resolution at the beginning of each year. Whether your goal this year is to get fit, to become more productive or something else, there is nothing wrong with making improvements in your life. At the Law Office of Cheryl Bucker, P.A., we also know that it can benefit you and your loved ones to make positive goals after a divorce.
Child custody is one of the most contentious aspects of a divorce, and the conflict can continue for as long as your children are growing up. It isn’t always easy to get along with your ex-spouse, but there are some improvements you can attempt that may reduce some of the tension and enhance the relationship between you, your ex and your children, even if you never actually become friends with your ex. The Huffington Post offers the following suggestions:
- Put yourself in your ex’s shoes. You don’t have to agree, but you might resolve an issue by being open to communication and compromise.
- Be flexible about visitation and willing to change the schedule if it benefits either of you or the children.
- Respect your ex’s time with the children and try not to interfere.
- Understand which conflicts are worth fighting for, and which are better letting go of.
- Enjoy the downtime when it’s the other parent’s turn to have the kids.
- Consider counseling or mediation if your ex consistently makes things difficult or your children are having trouble adjusting to the divorce.
It’s important for both of you to have a relationship with your children. You can’t change how your ex feels and acts, but you can control how you react to challenges. However, as our page on child custody explains, some situations necessitate legal counsel.