Children need both parents. Those parents may not be married, but children still need a connection with both Mom and Dad. That is important to their future.
How does it impact them? Pick almost any type of childhood development, and you can find a link. For instance, children who have both parents in their lives tend to get better grades in school. Nothing is as important as an education. It can open so many doors. If having both parents involved can help a child do better, get into a better college and start a better career, shouldn’t that be what parents want?
Having this involvement also helps children avoid negatives, like criminal activity, getting pregnant in high school or getting involved with alcohol and drugs. Parents spend a lot of time trying to protect their children from mistakes, and the best way to do it is to make sure that both parents work together as a team.
Again, this does not mean you and your spouse have to be married. In fact, you may be a happier, healthier and better parent if you are not also a married couple. Just do not assume that getting divorced means that the children only need to see one of you. It’s not just about having an authority figure to watch over them; it’s about raising them. When looking at development in all areas of life, that’s where having both parents helps so much.
Keep all of this in mind when exploring your child custody options during a divorce, especially if you’re worried about not being able to see the children often enough.