Parents in Massachusetts love to see their children achieve success at school, in their extracurricular pursuits and through their relationships with their friends and family members. Children who are happy tend to be children who thrive. Oftentimes, however, when children are forced to bear the painful experience of their parents’ divorce, they can grow less inclined to engage as they did when both of their parents had a daily presence in their upbringing.
The separation of a parent from their child due to a post-divorce child custody plan can be hard to cope with. A child who was accustomed to getting a hug and kiss from both parents at bedtime, for example, may have to learn a new routine if one of those parents no longer serves a custodial role in the child’s life. However, through the use of technology some parents and kids are able to stay connected even if divorce and parenting plans get in their way.
Virtual visitation is a relatively new concept in the world of custody, parenting and visitation. It involves allowing a child and parent to have uninterrupted and scheduled visitation time through a technology platform such as Skype or FaceTime. Although virtual visitation is not the same as having actual visitation time, parents and kids may find it to be a useful way to have more daily involvement in each other’s lives.
Coming up with an effective post-divorce parenting plan can be tough, but virtual visitation may give some families a way to ease into the difficult process of splitting one household into two. Readers may wish to discuss this option with their family law attorneys to see if it is something that may be incorporated into their child custody and visitation plans.