Child Timesharing In Fort Lauderdale: Overcoming Challenges In Getting Along With An Ex

Going through a divorce or breakup is one of life’s most challenging experiences, particularly when there are children involved. Child timesharing helps ensure frequent and ongoing contact with each parent but requires both parties to cooperate and communicate effectively. After all that happened in your relationship, being friendly or even civil can feel like a monumental task.

Fostering respect with a co-parent is not always easy. However, it benefits your child’s emotional health and can make the timesharing process easier. Our Fort Lauderdale child custody attorney understands how difficult this situation is and offers suggestions on overcoming challenges.

To Successfully Share Parenting, Put Aside Personal Feelings About Your Former Co-Parent

Even if you are not a golf fan, you likely know of Tiger Woods. Considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, he was also at the center of a high-profile Florida divorce in 2010. In addition to ending his marriage to his supermodel wife and mother of his young children, allegations of infidelity, excessive drinking, and other abuse made headlines and almost ended his career.

Fourteen years later, his family is in the news once again. This time, it is for a touching scene where he hugged his ex-wife and the couple’s now 15-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter after winning second place at the PNC Championship in Orlando. A December 24, 2024, ABC News report states that the former couple shares custody and has worked hard to foster a friendly, respectful relationship.

Putting aside personal feelings about a spouse and what happened during your marriage is never easy. It is particularly challenging when one or both parties engage in behavior that hurts the other. In this situation, remember two key points:

• While you may have strong feelings about your ex, they are still your child’s other parent.
• It is in everyone’s best interests for former spouses to be respectful in their dealings with one another.

Ways To Maintain a Respectful Relationship with Your Ex

The Florida Statutes generally encourage child timesharing and consider it to be in the best interests of children, provided neither parent puts them at risk. Building a respectful co-parenting relationship takes time and a decent amount of effort for parents. Our Fort Lauderdale child timesharing attorney recommends these tips:

• Establish clear boundaries;
• Define what is and isn’t appropriate when interacting with each other;
• Avoid bringing up the past and revisiting old arguments;
• Keep communication focused on the children;
• Avoid criticizing the other parent, particularly in your child’s presence
• Stick to the terms of your parenting plan.

Of course, there are times when bad behavior poses a threat and makes ‘getting along’ with a former partner impossible. Get legal help immediately if you are in this situation.

Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Child Timesharing Attorney Today

Co-parenting can pose unique challenges. To protect yourself and the best interests of your children when negotiating and implementing parenting plans, contact Fort Lauderdale child time-sharing attorney Sandra Bonfiglio. For caring support and trusted, professional legal representation, schedule a consultation today.

Sources:

abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/tiger-woods-wife-share-embrace-after-son-2nd/story

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html