Maintaining a healthy parent-child relationship during and after a divorce is sometimes difficult. Along with the separation comes a change in relationships, communication, and routine for both the child and parents. Once the details of child custody and access are resolved, both parents should work to maintain consistency in order to ensure that the child feels secure in his/her new reality.
Be consistent with house rules. Whenever possible, divorced spouses should make arrangements so their child has the same house rules at both households. This includes going to bed at a consistent time; having a designated homework time, and establishing curfews. Having two different philosophies, one at each house, can create confusion for the child and ultimately lead to problems.
Discipline consistently.Both homes should operate under the same set of consequences. Parents should follow-through with an established rewards and punishment system so that the child knows what to expect, regardless of which parent he/she is spending time with.
Maintain a consistent schedule for activities. Children thrive with predictability. Keeping a consistent schedule allows them to know what to expect next. With the changes that accompany divorce, a consistent schedule of activities can reassure the child that he will continue to enjoy favorite activities despite the divorce.
Maintaining this consistency is not easy. Accomplishing these goals requires that parents put aside their differences and communicate effectively regarding the best interests of their child. For more information contact Linda Sorg Ostovitz at lostovitz@offitkurman.com or telephone (301) 575-0381.
ABOUT LINDA SORG OSTOVITZ
Linda Sorg Ostovitz is a family law attorney. Her legal experience spans more than 34 years. In this time, she has served as a leader, educator and advocate. Mrs. Ostovitz holds a prestigious fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Currently, she serves as President for the Business Women’s Network of Howard County, by which she was chosen Woman of Distinction for 2014. Mrs. Ostovitz represents clients in Howard, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Baltimore Counties. Her practice focuses exclusively on divorce litigation and mediation, child custody and access, child support, alimony, business valuation, as well as property and asset distribution. In addition to providing legal representation in court, Mrs. Ostovitz provides mediation services to help families come to a fair and legally-sound conclusion outside of the traditional court proceedings.
ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN
Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 120 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eight offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Northern Virginia markets, as well as the Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City metropolitan areas. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.
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