Effect of Limited Contact on Parent-Child Relationship After Divorce
My question involves a child custody case from the State of: WA
I'm now a 33 single father. My boys are 4 and 5. Until six months ago, they spent a year of staying five nights each week. Now their Mom and I have concluded it's beneficial they stay with me (Dad) from Fri (330PM) - Sun (7PM) and Wednesday (330 - 630PM). This is ever Week scheduled. During Summer they'll stay Sunday nights.
They live about 20 miles away, and go to school in a different school district.
Their Mom is now living with her future husband and the boys are all getting along well. Now that the boys are spending less time with me, I'm worried they won't recognize me as father anymore, or I could just be faded out of the picture.
Please send a PM.
Regards,
--jr
Re: Effect of Limited Contact on Parent-Child Relationship After Divorce
Kids are smarter than that.
Re: Effect of Limited Contact on Parent-Child Relationship After Divorce
Thank you. Was thinking about consulting with a child psychologist for advice.
Re: Effect of Limited Contact on Parent-Child Relationship After Divorce
Why? You're Dad. Kids know who Dad is.
As Mr. K says, they're smarter than all that. Give your kiddos some credit, yeah?
Re: Effect of Limited Contact on Parent-Child Relationship After Divorce
Try consulting an ADULT psychologist for advice. By their age, the kids know you're dad. No matter how many other dad-substitutes, mom's boyfriends, or step-dads may cross their paths in life. You are, and always will be "dad" to their hearts and minds. If you're having feelings of uneasyness, inadequacy or of fear being replaced, which are all very common to dad's in your situation, keep in mind that those are YOUR issues. Get help for the issues YOU are having before you TURN THEM into an issues for your children. Trying to get your children treated or evaluated for issues they don't HAVE, only opens the door for CAUSING issues where none existed - starting by making the children wonder why you think something is wrong with THEM.
Re: Effect of Limited Contact on Parent-Child Relationship After Divorce
(OP, I did receive your PM...not ignoring you, k?)
It's important to note here that J is only the father of the youngest child; he's not the legal father of the eldest. J's journey has involved trying to arrange a formal custody/visitation order regarding the eldest, too (given that he's been de facto Dad for so long).
Hopefully a decent solution can be found.