Parenting is a rewarding experience, and you will learn just as much as you teach while raising your child. However, it can also be challenging as you try to balance your responsibilities to raise a well-rounded individual and maintain a solid parent-child relationship.
These challenges are compounded for parents who do not live under the same roof. Custody will be a key issue in divorce, but the issue involves more than where the child lives and who gets visitation. Illinois law uses the term allocation of parental responsibilities to refer to making the important decisions about how to raise the child. As co-parents, it is understandable that you both want parenting arrangements to be loving and supportive.
Still, while you can agree on the overall objective, there can be challenges with the details. Disputes often develop, and parents should consult with their Chicago child custody lawyers for legal help. To better assess whether your parenting arrangements are promoting positive effects, consider how you would answer the following questions.
Does The Parenting Plan Prioritize The Child’s Best Interests?
The starting point for any issue involving custody and allocation of parental responsibilities is the Illinois statute on the child’s best interests. There are 15 factors listed in the law, so you can evaluate the success of your parenting plan by reviewing:
- How well your child has adjusted to home and school
- The mental and physical health of both parents and child
- The distance between households
- Each parent’s willingness to cooperate with decision making
- The wishes of the child, which is based upon age and maturity level
How Well Is Your Child Dealing With The Parenting Arrangement?
The child’s best interests are important, but you also need to consider how the current plan is serving your child on a personal level. There are a few signs that indicate a change is in order, so it is cause for concern if your child:
- Suddenly performs poorly at school
- Gets involved with disciplinary proceedings at school, clubs, or other communities
- Bullies others, including siblings
- Withdraws from parent and family interactions
- Is arrested or accused of criminal activity
- Abuses drugs or alcohol.
Keep in mind that these issues could also be the result of the child dealing with a new lifestyle after divorce, so patience is wise.
Is Your Relationship With Your Child Healthy?
It can be difficult to reflect on the topic when the answer is negative, but being honest with yourself could turn the No into a Yes. If your work schedule creates conflicts, your child might harbor resentment. Alternatively, perhaps the current residential plan prevents your child from interacting with friends. These aspects of the parenting arrangement may be modified to reduce conflict.
Trust Our Chicago Child Custody Lawyers to Advise You
These factors can help you understand whether your parenting arrangements are promoting positive effects, but it is important to reach out for legal help if disputes develop. For more information, please contact Michael C. Craven at (312) 621-5234. We can schedule a no-cost initial consultation with an experienced Chicago child custody attorney who will prove the details.
