Kids tend to think that being an adult is easier than being a child. In some ways, it certainly is. And in some ways, being an adult is much more difficult. Once you have gained the freedom to make your own choices, you must exercise that freedom at varying degrees of risk. For example, you may be contemplating relocation due to work, love, medical need or another compelling reason. However, you may be worried about how relocation will affect your child and/or your child custody arrangements. Making choices like this is part of what makes being an adult uniquely challenging.
Thinking about relocating with your child?
There is more than one way to be a good divorced parent
When you and your child’s other parent opted to divorce, you likely feared that your child would suffer as a result of your mutual decision. Perhaps you questioned your capacity as a single parent and even questioned whether you could be a good parent under your new circumstances. Hopefully, you have learned with time that there is no one way to be a good parent to your child. And if you have yet to learn that invaluable lesson, hopefully you will learn it soon.
If your child wants to live with his or her other parent
If you and your child’s other parent are no longer a couple, your child custody, parenting time and parenting plan arrangements could be constructed in any number of ways. In general, family law courts do not expect that your current arrangements will necessarily continue as outlined until your child turns 18. The courts do allow for modifications of existing orders due to any number of changed circumstances.
How conflicts with your co-parent may affect your teen
Teenagers can be perplexing creatures. At one minute, they could care less what their parents do or say and in the next minute their parents’ words and actions can matter very, very much. Even when your teen appears not to be watching or listening, he or she is likely taking life clues from your behavior. His or her sense of justice, acceptance, respect and etiquette will likely be modeled after yours to a great extent.
