In the heat of a child custody dispute, a parent’s instinct is often to fight to get as much time with the child as possible. But is that really what is best for you and your child? Before charging headfirst into battle, it is worthwhile to step back and take a look at how having custody of your child for the majority of the time would impact other aspects of your life and your child’s life.
Your Career
Are you consistently working 50 or 60 hours a week? Do you travel for work? Are there still professional goals that you are aspiring to achieve, goals that require you to put in more time at work? Particularly after a divorce, when increased hours of work may be necessary to compensate for the switch from two incomes to one, it can be challenging to strike a balance between your workday and your duties as a parent.
Your Relationships
Family relationships can be strengthened in these situations. Grandparents, aunts and uncles are often turned to for childcare and other help. But what about the relationships with your friends? Do you want to set aside time to go out with them on a regular basis? Are you interested in pursuing a romantic relationship? These things require time.
Your Child
You are a good parent. You put your child ahead of your career, your relationships and yourself. It may be difficult for you to even think about prioritizing these things. However, these things may also benefit your child. Think of it this way: Any increased income from a better job would help you pay for everything you want your child to have. Stronger relationships for you can mean a stronger support system for your child.
Furthermore, Texas law is built around the standard of doing what is in the best interest of the child. Unless one parent is somehow a danger to the child or there are other extenuating factors, this means that the child should spend time with both parents, and child custody, referred to as child conservatorship in Texas, should reflect that.
Your Child’s Schedule
Depending on your child’s age, he or she may have a schedule in place. School. Sports and extracurricular activities. Hanging out with friends. Where and when does this all take place? Is it closer to you, or to the other parent?
Quality Of Time Versus Quantity Of Time
Perhaps it is better to think about child conservatorship in terms of quality of time, rather than quantity of time. Perhaps it makes more sense to create arrangements that take every factor into account and allow you to make the most out of every minute you have with your child. Thankfully, conservatorship is extremely flexible. With the help of an experienced lawyer, you can pursue conservatorship arrangements that make the most sense for you and your child.
At Heinrich Christian, PLLC, we can help you take a holistic view of the situation and create workable child custody arrangements.
