The Inconsistent Parent.
Your ex boasts about their new “busy” life, which means that he sees the schedule as more of a “guideline” than a rule. Your ex shows up late to pick your child up, sometimes they return your child hours after the schedule dictates, making your child late for bedtime or not allowing enough time for homework. They make you feel guilty since this is their “only” time together. This not only affects your child’s emotional well-being, but it affects your own life as well. You never know what to expect, and your ex takes full advantage of that. Your child’s needs come first, and it is vital for your ex to understand that. Make it clear that the visitation schedule is court-ordered, and if modifications need to be made, you need to work together, in court if necessary, to make everything work for all members of the family. For example, if your ex is “too busy” to be a parent 8 hours a week, then maybe less time with their child is necessary for everyone involved.
Your Child is not a Pawn.
Some parents use their child as a means of controlling the situation. They may feel anger toward their ex, so they take the child and use them like a possession, thinking they are punishing their ex by doing so. Your child should not be a hostage to the visitation schedule. Keep an open dialogue with your child and make it clear that if your child ever feels uncomfortable with the schedule, or your ex, modifications to the custody arrangement must be made.
Dealing with the No-Show.
You go through your usual routine with your child, preparing yourself and them for their visit with your ex. Then, an hour goes by. Another hour passes, so you call your ex, and they do not answer. This will affect your child, not only their feelings, but they could also develop trust issues if this happens often. Documentation is very helpful in these situations. Do your best to make your ex aware of court-ordered visitation schedules, letting them know that if it continues, you will take them back to court to modify the custody arrangements accordingly.
Documentation of visitation schedules, as well as specific calendar days your ex was late or failed to show up will almost always hold up in court. Keep a log in a notebook, or document right into Google docs on your smart-phone or laptop. Here at the Law Offices of Steven Buholz, we prioritize the best interest of the children involved in divorce cases, so they can build rewarding relationships with their families.
Contact The Law Offices of Steve Buholz today to see just how much of a positive difference we can make in your divorce case. (214) 580-8000. We have two locations to serve you. Our Dallas county office is located in Churchill Tower, 12400 Coit Rd, Suite 670, Dallas, TX 75251. Our Collin county office is located at 5600 Tennyson Pkwy, Plano, TX 75024.
