| When a person marries someone who has children, | | | | help your spouse see different alternatives to working |
| they become an instant parent. This role brings a lot of | | | | things out. |
| responsibility and challenges to the new step parent. | | | | Don't encourage your spouse to engage in an |
| And, there can be even extra challenges if the step | | | | unnecessary custody dispute. Of course it's important |
| parents spouse is currently involved in the child | | | | to fight for what is best for the child, and that may |
| custody case. Fortunately, the step parent can be a | | | | mean that the parents repeatedly go back to court. |
| big asset to the parent in the child custody case. | | | | Your spouse should never just give in to the whims |
| Here's some information so you know what to do. | | | | and demands of the other parent. Look for |
| First off, a step parent needs to understand that child | | | | opportunities of fair compromise that are beneficial to |
| custody cases have an undetermined length. Some of | | | | both parents. If the parents are really struggling to |
| them last for years because the parents keep taking | | | | come to an agreement, suggest they attend mediation. |
| each other back to court. Some of the cases wrap up | | | | During this time you can also be a good support to the |
| very quickly because the parents can get to an | | | | child. Don't ever bad mouth the child's other parent and |
| agreement. Understand that you may be in for a long | | | | don't try to replace that parent. Be a friend and |
| case and you should prepare for that. | | | | parental figure to the child. Be respectful of the child's |
| To help your spouse with the custody case, you | | | | space and time to adjust to you as the step parent. |
| should try to remain level-headed and down to earth | | | | Step parenting requires a lot of love, forgiveness, and |
| about the whole thing. It's good to be emotionally | | | | understanding. Show genuine love to the child and be a |
| supportive, but it really doesn't help the situation if you | | | | true support by being willing to really listen to the child. |
| rant and rave against the ex spouse. When you have | | | | These are just a few of the ways that a step parent |
| opinions about the case, you can express them calmly | | | | can be a benefit during a custody case. Work on your |
| and clearly to your spouse. You can provide valuable | | | | relationship with your spouse and the children and you |
| insight because you have an outsiders point of view | | | | will be a great help to all of them at this time. |
| on the whole case. Use that to your advantage and to | | | | |