Even after a former California couple with young children settles their divorce, they may find themselves still having to have some sort of relationship with each other while they raise the children. One of the major arguments that many have is what rules for their kids they will be implementing at home. However, if those house rules are different, the children can have a hard time adjusting.
Implementing a set of house rules that stay consistent between both households provides the children with stability, especially while everything is changing around them. Ideally, the two parents would be able to sit down and create a list of rules that both agree to honor when the children are in their home. For example, these can include a bedtime, the amount of screen time the children should be allowed to have and even how much junk food the children should be allowed to eat. If the kids are old enough, they can even be tie breakers if the parents are not able to agree on certain rules.
If parents are having trouble working through their differences, they could either take a parenting class to learn how to co-parent effectively or work with a mediator. Both of these options provide unbiased help for parents who want to work together but do not know how to.
California ccourts are most concerned about making child custody decisions that are in the best interests of the children. In many cases, this means a shared parenting custody arrangement. However, these types of arrangements can be difficult for parents to deal with, especially if they have different ideas about how they want to raise the children. A family law attorney could help negotiate a parenting plan that lays out the parenting decisions that both parties agreed to, which can include important rules that both parents and the children must follow.