Set aside child custody strife during graduation season

In just a few months, families across Colorado will gather to celebrate graduation. This a significant event in a young person’s life and should be a joyous occasion, full of positivity and hope for the future. For kids who have become accustomed to divorce and child custody strife between their parents, graduation can also be a time of great stress. Parents can and should make every effort to give their kids the gift of a stress-free graduation experience.

The first step lies in communicating with each other, even if open lines of communication are a thing of the past. For those who cannot speak directly, email can be a great facilitator of the exchange of information. Work through the scheduling needs that will come into play during graduation week, so that there are no unpleasant surprises when the time arrives.

It is important to make sure that all of the relatives and guests that gather to celebrate a child’s achievement are allowed to participate. This includes extended family who were never one’s favorite people to spend time with. It even includes the new partner of one’s former spouse, as difficult as that might be to stomach.

At the end of the day, graduation is meant to be a focus on the student, not a chance for parents to take some final swipes at one another. When divorced families are able to set aside their child custody struggles and lingering resentments, the end result is a better experience for the shared child. Virtually everyone remembers their high school graduation, and Colorado parents should try to make this one memorable for all the right reasons.

Source: San Diego Ca. Patch, “Your Divorce Is Not Part Of Your Teen’s Graduation“, Susan C. Schena, March 31, 2016