Divorced parents with shared custody in Arizona face the challenge of setting consistent rules for their children. Considering the negative impact of contradictory rules coming from separate households, parents should be willing to work together to come to a consensus.
Conflicting rules coming from divorced parents can leave children mentally and emotionally confused. While a parent can resort to using the court system to try to force their ex-spouse to set rules that are in harmony with their personal beliefs, the outcome of taking this matter to court is always uncertain. A preferable outcome may be attained by the divorced parents working together to set consistent rules from household to household.
By engaging in face-to-face discussions, parents can openly discuss and come to a consensus on things like bedtime, dietary restrictions, entertainment and choice of associates for their children. Involving the children in these discussions can be beneficial in some cases.
Parenting classes and unbiased third-party mediation can also help parents close the gap on differences they have in the rules they wish to set for their children. Though it can be challenging, divorced parents with shared custody should try to be flexible.
A family law attorney may have experience dealing with custody cases. In a scenario where one parent feels that their ex-spouse is creating an unsafe environment for their children, the family law attorney may assist during the child custody hearings. For example, the lawyer may argue to a judge that sole custody is in the best interests of the child.