Custody agreements between divorcing parents can be difficult to decipher and life circumstances can mean that changes need to be made well after an agreement is reached. While a child custody agreement is in the works, Missouri parents may want to avoid a few common mistakes that can make the process harder on everyone. The avoidance of these mistakes or missteps early in the process can offset disputes or difficulties down the road.

One common mistake parents may unwittingly make is allowing the child to pick where he or she will stay. While this may be age appropriate in some cases, experts warn it can place unneeded stress on the child. One reason it is a mistake is that it can make the child feel as if he or she is hurting the feelings of the other parent.

Another piece of advice recently offered relates to predictability. Having a predictable schedule for visits and days with each parent is useful for children. One suggestion is to keep a calendar in the child’s room with the days highlighted so a child knows what to expect as this can reduce or eliminate stress about schedules.

Not all pieces of advice or tips will work for every Missouri family. However, no family should expect the divorce and child custody process to be seamless and without any kind of stress on parents or children. With help from experts and legal guidance, parents can work together to ensure a smooth and less stressful process when a child custody agreement is in the works.

Source: huffingtonpost.com, “Survive Parenting After Divorce: Don’t Make These 5 Common Mistakes!“, Natasha Daniels, Dec. 14, 2015