When you are a non-custodial parent, there is a big gap in your life. You no longer wake up every morning to your child or children at the breakfast table or get to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight every evening. But beyond ordinary visitation, there are many ways that you can get involved in your children’s lives, and you should do it. Children need both parents involved in their daily lives, possibly even more so after a divorce.
There are many things that your children are involved in that you can be a part of, too, at their schools, on athletic teams or in other after school activities at parks, with groups like scouts, or in church groups. You can attend the school play they are in, root for their team, volunteer at activities at their school, become active in the PTA and make your children aware that you are still there for them always and in every way possible. You get divorced from your estranged spouse, but you never “divorce” your children.
It is important to be reliable. For visitation, you need to make every effort possible to be there when you said you would be. Occasional post cards and phone calls from out of town or outside of Maryland if you go on a vacation or business trip can mean a lot to a child. Don’t try to make up for these things with lavish gifts. The gift that your child undoubtedly wants more than any electronic gizmo or flashy toy is your time and attention and the security of knowing that they still have not just one, but two parents who love them very much.
Source: Huffington Post, “Absent Parents Get Involved” Sojourner Marable Grimmett, Jan. 06, 2014
