Divorced parents in Virginia can work together for the long-term well-being of their children. Part of this is helping them successfully meet challenges they face, such as starting a new school year. Divorced parents can do this by working as a team when determining things such as what they want their child to get out of the school year.
As an example, if parents want their children to engage in extracurricular activities, such as sports, dance or school clubs, they will need to determine which clubs they feel are appropriate for their child, how involved they want their child to be in these activities, and how these activities will be financed.
Another challenge divorced parents should address together is schoolwork. Obviously, when the child is in one parent’s home, the rules of that house apply, but the reverse is also true. If parents can work to be cohesive in what they expect from their children regarding school work, they can reduce some of the stress a child feels during the start of a new school year.
If parents are unable to come to an agreement, they should do their best to explain to the child why the rules in one home are different than the rules in the other home. The goal should not be to defend their style of parenting but to help the child develop habits of discipline that will allow them to learn regardless of the location they are in. Regardless of the relationship the ex-spouses have with each other, the end priority should be their children’s development. Putting their children first should be the top priority of parents during the new school year.
If serious issues arise that put into question a parent’s fitness, a family law attorney may help a person argue for their fitness as a parent, represent the parent in joint custody cases and make arguments that reflect the best interests of the child or children involved.