Sharing child custody can be hard, but is usually for the best

You look at your daughter happily playing with the dog. They have been inseparable ever since your daughter was born five years ago. Next week, for the first time, it’s going to be just you and the dog, alone in the house. Your daughter is going to her dad’s for the week.

One of the hardest parts of divorce is coming to a shared custody agreement for your child. When a judge awards or agrees to a parenting plan, their priority is to do what is best for the child, in almost all cases, to maintain regular contact with both parents. It can be tempting to try and get more time with your child or take sole custody, but you need to consider why you are doing this. Is it for you or your daughter?

Not seeing your little one every day can take getting used to. Yet, with time you may come to appreciate your time alone. You can use it to catch up with friends, pursue your interests, or even start dating again. You can use those days to recharge your batteries so that when your daughter is with you, you can maximize your time together.

So when it comes to sending your child off to their dad’s, be graceful. Your child does not need you to make them feel bad about going away. As Maya Angelou put it: “Love liberates. It doesn’t just hold—that’s ego.” Besides, if you are still feeling sad, you can always cuddle the dog.