For many noncustodial parents, the day that they moved out of the family home – or the day their spouse and children left the family home – was one of the most difficult days in their lives.
Although you may be enjoying a healthier, less toxic home life because you’re no longer enduring a relationship based on incompatibility, you’re probably missing the “pitter-patter” of little feet and the opportunity to be with your children full time, every day. For this reason, you probably want to enjoy the visitation time you have with your children to the max.
The best way to make the most of the time you have with your kids is to make the time about them, and support their interests. Don’t push them into activities they don’t want to do. Rather, expand on the activities they love, and try to find new activities that genuinely capture their interests.
Let’s consider the example of sports. You may have loved playing basketball and soccer as a youth, but sports aren’t for everyone. Talk to the faculty at any prestigious university and you will find many highly successful intellectuals who have never played an hour of sports in their lives. Or, if they did, they might have hated every second of it and resent their parents for making them. The truth is, your child will be drawn toward certain activities and repelled by others.
By forcing your child into an activity, you might be taking their away from something that makes their heart truly sing. Take the time to find out what your child’s true interests are and help foster education and activities around those interests. Your child will love you for it, and who knows, one of these interests could even grow into a profitable career for them.
Unfortunately, not all parents have the legal right to spend time with their kids and have a positive impact on them like this. If you do not have visitation rights, our law firm is available to fight for you in court if necessary to secure your right to spend time with your children.
