Washington Legal News: Seattle Divorce & Domestic Violence Lawyer

Seattle Dad Gives Advice About Making Shared Child Custody Work

This week in USA Today, a feature story explored how dads who don’t live with their kids year-round can continue to be involved with their children’s lives even after a painful divorce and even if they only have partial custody.

One of the fathers profiled in the piece and about divorce, dads, and child custody was 45-year-old Seattle father Jim Lapan. Lapan was married for 13 years but go divorced three years ago. The couple shares custody of their 11-year-old son, who spends weeknight with one parent and weeknights with the other, alternating each month. While the couple’s relationship no longer worked romantically, Lapan says that he and his ex-wife work hard together to successfully parent their son. What is the most important aspect of their ongoing parenting relationship? Communication. They make sure that discipline is consistent, along with the rest of the boy’s care.

Other fathers in the piece thought of creative ways to keep in touch with their children after a divorce and despite distance – one father sent his ex-wife pre-paid envelopes that she would fill with his children’s art projects, notes, and school accomplishments. Others are taking advantage of new technology, such as text messages, video chat, and cell phone calls.

The general trend is encouraging – many more dads today truly want to continue good, lasting relationships with their children after divorce than just a few decades ago. And a few creative ideas and leaps in technology make it easier for dads to keep in contact even if partial custody, limited visitation, and geography get in the way.

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