If the court has awarded you primary custody of your child or children, you have important obligations. Custody cases are emotionally trying and not all go smoothly. With primary custody, you have full physical responsibility for your child and make legal decisions with your ex-spouse. You may otherwise have full legal and physical custody of your child, given certain circumstances, in which you have total legal decision making responsibility as well. It’s an important task, and one that can be overwhelming for a parent, especially if you find yourself no longer with the help of a spouse. Here are the ways you can ensure that your custody status stays stable and that your child is healthy and happy.

Keep a Happy Home

The most important aspect of primary custody responsibility is ensuring your child’s well-being. This means many different things, since they live with you, so it’s important to ensure that you’re setting your child up for success. This means getting them to school on time, monitoring their grades, behaviors and friend circle, and providing a home where they can thrive. A supportive home environment means quality time bonding with your child, basic food and hygiene necessities, and an emotionally supportive family structure.

Ensure Parenting Time With Your Child and Ex-Spouse

Though you have primary physical custody of your child, you need to ensure that your child has parenting time with your ex-spouse, if mandated by the court. If you withhold visitation when it is mandatory for your child to spend time with your ex-spouse, you may be found in contempt of court. It’s now up to you to honor the court scheduled parenting time between you and your ex-spouse. Though you have primary custody and the child lives with you, their relationship with their other parent is key to their development.

Ensure Your Well-Being for Your Child’s Sake

It’s important to not neglect your own self when focusing on your child, as the way to fulfill their best interests is to ensure that you are doing okay as well. Taking time to ensure care for your mental and physical health needs is responsible parenting. Primary custody can be a big role to take on, especially without the help of a spouse, so make sure to take care of yourself. Maybe this means getting a massage while your child is at a friend’s house or scheduling a babysitter for a night off with friends every few months. This will all help you be a better parent to your child in the long run.

If you’re going through a divorce and need an experienced law firm to help you win primary custody, whether primary physical custody or sole legal and physical custody, Simon Law Group can assist you. Contact us today to learn more.