Love is a beautiful thing. However, the same cannot be said of divorce or separation. If a romantic relationship ends in a divorce or separation, one of the important matters the couple needs to address is child custody. This can be an extremely difficult subject both for the parents and the child involved.

More and more divorcing couples are opting for joint custody. This parenting arrangement allows children to share equal amounts of time with both parents.

Unless one parent is abusive and thus likely to endanger the child, here are compelling reasons why you should consider joint custody after the divorce.

Two are definitely better than one

Joint custody ensures that both parents are actively involved in the child's day-to-day affairs. The result, the child enjoys the protection of both parents. This close involvement comes with several benefits such as:

• Better upbringing – for instance, the mum can focus on reading storybooks with the kid while the dad takes care of their sporting needs.
• Each parent brings their unique strengths and parenting skills to the table

And as parents realize they need each other to properly raise the child, they will certainly put their differences aside and focus on what is in the best interest of the child.

Everyone is happy

Joint custody can be a huge blessing to parents who desire to maintain unrestricted contact with their child after the divorce. For fathers, joint custody presents an opportunity to bring meaning and purpose into their child's life. And for the mothers, this means more time to refresh and focus on other aspects of life. Finally, shared custody allows the child to build a strong relationship with both parents.

Every child deserves the care and attention of both parents. Find out how joint custody can help you work out a parenting plan that serves in the best interest of the child.