Children of all ages can benefit physically, socially, and emotionally from playing organized sports, but managing athletic obligations after divorce is incredibly challenging. Not only will games and practice cut into your already limited time with your children, but buying uniforms and traveling to tournaments can also drain your discretionary income.
According to The Washington Post, only 38 percent of children from homes with a household income of $25,000 or less played team sports in 2015, whereas 67 percent of kids from homes with a household income of $100,000 or more did so. Since keeping up with various extracurricular obligations is often costly and complicated, divorcing couples who share children should consider the logistics of doing so when devising their custody arrangement.
If you are facing divorce proceedings in Florida and you want to ensure your children will continue playing the sports they love after the dust has settled, contact Sandy B Becher PA. Sandy B. Becher will help you devise a reasonable custody arrangement that ultimately prioritizes your children’s best interests. Call 305-860-5811 to schedule a consultation with a divorce attorney in Miami.
Read on to learn how you and your ex can manage your children’s athletic endeavors after divorce:
- Put Your Children First
After getting divorced, the time spent with your children will be more valuable than ever. As a result, you may not want to send them to sports practice, school plays, or even birthday parties on your evenings or weekends together, especially if all those events seem to fall on “your” days.
When you find yourself especially frustrated with the arrangement, try to remember that participating in these kinds of activities will ultimately give your kids a more fulfilling childhood. As long as you recognize the sacrifices you make are for your children, they will be worth it.
- Look to the Future
If your children are too young to participate in organized sports, you should still consider addressing the topic in the divorce settlement. Discuss the various issues that will likely arise as your children get older, like how much each parent will contribute to athletics and whether both Mom and Dad need to consent before one parent can sign their kids up for the team. Addressing these kinds of questions now will prevent disputes from arising down the road.
- Remain Flexible
It is important to remain flexible when it comes to the custody arrangement as your children age and discover their true passions and talents. For example, you should be open to negotiating for a new visitation schedule if it turns out your child loves gymnastics—and wants to spend every weekend training or competing.
Although letting your child pursue this passion may be in his or her best interests, it could be unfair to the parent who originally had the kids on weekends. As a result, it is worth revisiting the custody arrangement and devising something more satisfactory for both parties.
If you are considering divorce, contact Sandy B Becher PA for compassionate legal guidance during every step of the proceedings. Call 305-860-5811 to schedule a consultation with a family lawyer in Miami. You can learn more about child custody law in Florida by visiting USAttorneys.com.
