Curbing emotions can help you get through a custody dispute

A divorce can bring so many emotions to the surface. And this can be especially true for divorcing parents. Child custody issues can trigger animosity in both parties, so much so that it can be easy to lose track of what matters most; the emotional health and well-being of the child.

But even if you take your child’s best interests into consideration, you may find it difficult to see past your anger with your former partner. And in fact, you may even conflate your spouse’s shortcomings as a husband or wife with his or her ability to be a good parent.

As difficult as it may be to accept, it is possible that an irresponsible spouse can be a loving and devoted parent. And this is an important fact when you realize that your child needs the love and attention of both parents.

So, when working out a parenting agreement, you will likely be serving yourself well by tabling as much of your frustration with your ex as possible. Doing so can have many benefits. First, by being cooperative you can get the divorce finalized quicker, which will save you money and spare you emotional wear and tear.

Cooperative planning will also help make your child’s transition to his or her new circumstances easier. Being stuck in the middle of a fight between the two most important people in his or her life can be very stressful for a child.

But sometimes it’s challenging to craft a parenting agreement that is fair and serves the best interests of the child. Each marriage is unique with many facets that require consideration. A California family law attorney could act as your guide when you are attempting to work out the details of an amenable parenting agreement. The attorney can help make sure that your agreement and custody terms are appropriate to your circumstances.