Why Splitting Up Your Teenage Children After A Divorce Can Make A Lot Of Sense
Keeping your children together when you and your spouse get divorced is common in a lot of families. For example, you might share custody of your children, and have them spend a week with you and then a week with your ex-spouse. There are lots of advantages to keeping children together, but as they get older, you might want to think about a different arrangement. If you and your spouse have two teenagers, splitting them up can make a lot of sense. You'll have one teen for the week while your ex has the other teen, and then you'll swap. Here are some reasons that this can be a worthwhile idea.
They Might Not Be Close
Siblings are often close when they're young, but can frequently drift apart to some degree in their teenage years. Lots of teens are more interested in their friends from school than their siblings, so your teens might not get a lot of value out of staying together in a joint custody situation. If you've noticed that your teens aren't as close as they were when they were younger, you might want to entertain the idea of having each teen live with one parent and then switch.
Teens Often Appreciate Space
A house with two teenagers living in it can often seem cramped, especially if the house is small. For example, teens frequently take a lot of time in the bathroom before school, and if you have only one bathroom in your house, conflicts can quickly come up. Additionally, teenagers often want a little more space than when they were younger. A teen might enjoy spending time online or just hanging out in his or her room, and these tasks might not be as easy when the teen's sibling is in the home. By splitting up the teens, you can give each one more space.
It Can Lead To Fewer Conflicts
Divorce isn't an easy time for teenagers, and the stress that they feel can often cause them to lash out. While some teens will lash out at their parents, others will seek to start more arguments with their siblings. The last thing that you want at this difficult time is a pair of teens in your house who are constantly arguing, especially when you're going through a lot of stress. Teens have enough stress in their lives without fights between siblings, and having them split time make lead to fewer conflicts.
For more help, contact a child custody lawyer in your area.