Divorce experts and counselors across the country have noticed a recent change in child custody preferences for newly divorced parents. More parents are choosing fifty-fifty joint child custody, where the kids spend close to the same amount of time with each parent.
The generation of children that are products of this custody arrangement have been dubbed the “fifty- fifty generation”.
Previous generations’ views on custody tended to lean more heavily on the mother as the primary caregiver. Experts suspect that the recent change in perception may have resulted from fathers becoming tired of being the parent who only “visited”.
Some mothers are struggling to let go of their actual or expected role as the primary caregiver. They worry that they are the only one that can give their kids the home life and daily routine that their children are accustomed to, but Dads can be good parents too.
Research on the impact of divorce on children has shown that kids handle the stress of a divorce best when both parents remain actively involved in their lives. There has been no definitive research on the impact of the fifty-fifty parenting schedule on children.
Divorce experts have also noticed a more creative, open-minded approach to splitting custody time in modern families. It is now more common for the parent who has moved out of the “family home” to come back and help with the kids’ daily routines or to eat a meal with the family.
Being open-minded, having good communication and allowing for flexibility in schedules are good approaches parents maintaining a fifty-fifty custody arrangement should keep in mind.
The fifty-fifty arrangement is not the best option for all families. A knowledgeable divorce attorney can help couples consider their options and decide on the best parenting plan for their circumstances.
