| The child's best interest comes first | Graphical version |
A child needs both a father and a mother. Although the parents may separate from each other, they should not separate from the child. The child has the right to receive care from both parents, even after a break-up. The parents should bear shared responsibility for the custody and maintenance of the child. Joint custody is the solution that makes this possible for most families. It is the child's right to maintain a close and safe relationship with both parents whenever it is possible.
Contradictory signals only harm the child. Responsible parents try to reduce the problems that disagreements and the break-up cause to the child. You may feel disappointed and angry at your spouse, but it is not something you want to take out on your children. This is also an issue that family mediation can help to solve. The mediator's duties include assisting in scheduling the meetings between the child and the parent in the best possible way.
