Does Your Child Want to Live With Her or His Other Parent?

You do your best to give your child the best life possible here in California. When a child has divorced parents, this objective may come with unique challenges.

OurFamilyWizard offers tips on how to respond when your child tells you she or he wants to live with her or his other parent. Put the information to good use as you do what you can to give your child a happy, healthy life.

Before feeling offended at your child’s desire to live with the other parent, look at the situation from her or his perspective. Ask why your son or daughter wants to live with the other parent, and try to understand the psychological underpinnings of that desire.

You may instantly feel like a bad parent if your child does not want to live with you or spend as much time with you. Focus on your child’s needs rather than your own. Also, realize that stress, anxiety or frustration could be the reason for the request.

It may be that your daughter or son does not like how you run your household. For instance, the other parent could be more flexible when it comes to bedtime, house rules and when to do homework. Knowing where to bend a little and where to stand firm in your house rules could present an effective compromise for everyone.

You cannot go wrong talking with your child’s other parent about your son or daughter’s desires. Is your child getting something in the other household that she or he is not getting in yours?

This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.