Divorce impacts everyone in your family, including your children. Not only is it an emotionally difficult time, but it’s also hard for some children to understand why they only get to live with one parent.
Do you know what to do if your child tells you they want to live with their other parent? Taking the right steps and listening to your child is imperative at this time. Some other tips to help in this situation can be found here.
Validate your child’s feelings
You need to let your child know their feelings are important and that you hear them. Even if you don’t agree with what they want, you need to hear the child out.
You should also let them know that they are free to express their feelings but that they should respectfully do this. If things get heated or emotional, take a break and revisit the conversation when everyone calms down.
Involve the other parent
It may be smart to let the other parent get involved in the conversation. If there’s an existing custody arrangement in place, and you decide to move forward with the child’s wishes, you want to make sure that your co-parent is also agreeable to the idea.
Avoid making a rushed decision
If you aren’t on good terms with your child’s other parent, it may be tempting to say no without letting your child express their feelings. However, divorce is hard on a child, and making sure they feel heard and that their feelings are accounted for is a must.
Custody modification
If you decide that your child can move, then requesting a custody modification may be necessary. This can be a complicated process, so make sure you know your rights and the process.
