Parenting New Years' Resolutions

In the blink of an eye, 2022 is behind us and 2023 is here! It’s been a whirlwind few years for many families – so maybe 2023 can be more about getting closer to the ones we love and finding some normalcy. This becomes much easier when we look at the role of parents in the family unit and put effort into improving how we can serve our children and our families.

The typical New Years’ Resolution includes hitting the gym and spending a little more time at the salad bar. We already know many of you may have those on your list, so we want to focus a little more on some resolutions that can improve your standing as a parent and improve your family’s circumstances.

Establish Paternity

First and foremost, 2023 should be the year you legally establish paternity if you haven’t done so already. Calling yourself a parent is a start, but fathers often face legal obstacles when there hasn’t been a legal determination of their paternity.

At The FAB Law Firm, we can assist you with your petition to establish paternity. This is important for divorced fathers and unmarried fathers. This petition helps both sides of the parenting relationship as it secures your rights as a father and will open discussions about custody and child support when necessary.

Prioritize Your Children

Life happens so fast. Many of us just turned the calendar to 2023 and can hardly grasp that 2022 has already come and gone. The moments we have can quickly come and go if we fail to slow things down and prioritize the ones we love.

Whether you’re in a healthy relationship or have a co-parenting plan with your ex, it’s important to put your children first. This might mean putting work aside during your visitation with your children and diving into their interests and education. The court system will always put the best interests of the child first in any custody or child support case. Improving your relationship with your children can earn you favor in the eyes of the court.

Be an Open Communicator

In co-parenting, communication is key. The barriers between you and your ex should not get in the way of doing what’s right for your children. Opening up the communication a bit more and allowing for a stronger, more cohesive co-parenting plan will only benefit everyone involved. This could mean using co-parenting apps or a shared calendar to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Open communication also relates to how we communicate with our children. Those barriers are more of a generational issue, but you should try to break through this barrier to make sure your children know you’re there whenever they need you.