Connecticut dads who are in the midst of a divorce may need to get used to the transition of being a part-time dad to their kids.
It can be a difficult adjustment for both parent and children. The following tips may help make it a bit easier.
— Get your own place as soon as possible. Don’t crash on friends’ couches or move in with a girlfriend, and make sure that the new place has a separate bedroom for the kids.
— Develop a routine and stick to it. Depending on the kids’ ages and schedules, make daily contact either with a goodnight call or a few encouraging words before school or in the afternoon when they get home. When a visitation plan is set in place, make sure that you abide by it as much as is possible. This provides stability for your children and lets them know that they can depend on you.
— Establish common interests or activities with your children. It can be something as simple as baking cookies together or settling in for a few PlayStation games, but let your children know that what interests them is important to you.
— Deep six the idea of introducing the kids to any dates. You want to make sure that the relationship is lasting and serious before arranging a meeting. Otherwise, it can confuse your child and cause him or her distress if the two of you split up later.
— Don’t argue with your ex in front of the kids or use them to pass messages back and forth. Remember that you are their role model for appropriate adult interactions and behave accordingly.
If you are unsure about the legality or propriety of anything that could adversely affect your custody of your children, remember that you can always address the matter with your family law attorney.
Source: familiesonlinemagazine.com, “10 Tips for Being a Father After a Divorce,” Eric Rush, accessed Oct. 30, 2015
