Angry Texts and Emails Can Affect Your Parenting Time

 Posted on September 09, 2016 in Children of Divorce

In today’s fast-paced world, we can communicate more quickly than ever before. While the telephone has been around for almost 150 years, only recently have we developed the technology to take our phones—and now our computers—with us wherever we go. Now, we can instantly reach and out touch friends and family members anywhere in the world with just a few taps on our smartphones. Instant communication, however, can also be a curse, especially for a divorced parent who is prone to angry outbursts, as texts and emails full of insults and vitriol can quickly find their way in front of a judge.

Reaching an Equilibrium

If you are a parent who has gone through or is going through a divorce, you have probably experienced highs and lows in your post-separation relationship with your former partner. It is entirely understandable that you will have disagreements. You may have different philosophies regarding life in general, as well as many various aspects of parenting. There is a reason—probably many reasons—that you are no longer together so a somewhat tenuous relationship is to be expected.

Your children, however, should not be forced to endure uncertainty and instability. Therefore, you and the other parent must do everything you can to reach a level of civility when it comes to raising your children. This is a crucial element that any court will consider when allocating parental responsibilities and parenting time.

Maintaining Control

When you are dealing situations regarding your children, it is easy to get caught up in emotion and fire off a message to your ex loaded with anger, hurt, and, in some cases, even threats. Such messages are a problem for several reasons. First, anything you send can be used as evidence against you, often without the benefit of context. A text message is likely to sound much different—and usually much worse—in the courtroom compared to when you first composed it.

One or two angry texts may not contain enough evidence in and of themselves that could influence the court to limit your parenting time, but they may be seen as symptoms of a bigger problem. Volatile outbursts and uncontrolled emotions that lead to nasty messages may suggest—whether it is true or not—that you have trouble managing your feelings and behavior. For many courts, a lack of self-control by a parent is a big red flag that, combined with other factors, could lead to restricting your access to your children.

Seeking Legal Help

If you have had issues with controlling your temper or if your child’s other parent has been sending you angry, hurtful messages, an experienced Lombard family law attorney can help you decide how to proceed. Call A. Traub & Associates today for a confidential consultation at one of our three convenient office locations. We are ready to help you protect your rights and those of your children.

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacqueline-harounian/how-mothers-lose-custody_b_1140298.html