Shared parenting is becoming more widely accepted in Florida family courts and across the country. What used to be known as joint custody has been given a more positive name to promote the positive aspects of sharing parental responsibility. The concept of parenting as partners after a divorce may seem difficult to some, but encouraging evidence pointing out the benefit to children may be enough to dispel some of the common misconceptions surrounding shared parenting.
Many people believe shared parenting is too difficult. There is too much animosity between parents to pull off a truly positive experience for the children. However, parents who have been willing to make use of resources like counseling and mediation have found healthy ways to work through problems, setting a fine example for their children. While some may feel it is enough for one parent to have custody and the other to have scheduled visitation, studies show that this arrangement can have devastating, long-term effects on children.
Shared parenting certainly takes some effort to work out schedules and to remain flexible to changes. However, many parents find there are benefits, such as allowing each parent down time and reducing the need for child care. The most important benefit, though, is the opportunity for the child to develop a strong relationship with both parents.
One final myth surrounding shared parenting is that the child receives less child support when parents have equal parental responsibility. While it may be true that one parent may be paying less toward the support of the child, it is also true that a child living in a shared parenting environment may need less financial support because each parent is contributing directly to the child rather than one providing only financial support. Nevertheless, Florida parents with questions and concerns about child custody issues can seek those answers through the counsel of an experienced attorney.
Source: thespruce.com, “6 Shared Parenting Myths“, Jennifer Wolf, Accessed on Dec. 2, 2017