Step Parenting

Step parenting has a high learning curve. A new parent comes in and suddenly needs to know all about raising children. On top of that, there are usually child custody issues going on that the step parent needs to be aware of and know about. This may be a lot of unfamiliar ground for the step parent to cover. Here is some helpful information about parenting plans that can make step parenting easier. Your spouse and the child's other biological parent should have created a parenting plan or custody agreement. If the custody case is still going on, they are still in the process of making this plan. The plan gives details about how the child custody arrangements will go and the responsibilities of each parent. Basically, it is the individual law book that governs this particular child custody situation. The biggest part of the parenting plan is the custody and visitation schedule. This is something every step parent should know very well and make accommodations for. If the marriage bet...

Step parenting involves dealing with a lot of child custody issues. These issues range from making sure one of the parents can pick up a child for visitation to preparing for custody court. For many step parents, learning how to deal positively with the custody issues cuts down on stress and helps them develop good relationships with the children and with their spouse. Here are some suggestions for step parents about how to deal with some of the bigger child custody issues. 1. Financial issues. A big part of the child custody process involves money. Step parents should be prepared to handle the financial aspects of the custody situation. This means sitting down with their spouse and finding out the exact expenses for the custody case. On top of monthly child support payments, they parents may need to pay for school expenses, extra-curricular expenses, and other living expenses for the child. If there has been a long, bitter child custody case there could also be substantial debt to an ...