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Doctor Presents An Opinion on Shared Parenting in Maryland
Maryland is currently dealing with an issue that some may not be aware of: Shared parenting during and after divorce. While some people believe that shared parenting shouldn’t be the status quo, others hold the opinion that it is the best arrangement for children.
In a recent editorial, Dr. Neil Holstein weighed in with his opinion. Here is a summary of what he wrote. The full article can be read here.
Statistics say that 71% of high school dropouts are from homes with single parents. Those children who only see their non-custodial parent on weekends but have both parents involved in their education have better grades. Children who are involved in a shared parenting arrangement do better in education overall.
Benefits of shared parenting include an improvement in education, decrease in truancy, fewer instances of crime, a decrease in aggression, an improvement in health, lowered anxiety and stress, and an increase in child support payments. Children who have both parents involved in their lives for the majority of the time have fewer run-ins with the law.
Proponents of the idea suggest that shared parenting is not always in the “best interest of the child” and should be considered in a case-by-case basis and should not be the norm. Others, like Dr. Holstein, a chair of the board of National Parents Organization, believes that it is time we put children first and allow them to fully enjoy the benefits of having both parents involved in their lives following a divorce.
If you need assistance with child custody issues in Columbia, MD, reach out to our office. We will help you arrange a consultation and advise you of your legal options.
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