Child Time Sharing Issues: When One Parent Undermines the Other’s Authority

When parents go through a breakup or a divorce, it is hard on both them and their children. While laws in Illinois support child time-sharing plans that allow both parties to remain active and involved in their children’s lives, making these arrangements work can prove challenging for all involved. It can be particularly difficult if one of the parents refuses to cooperate with the other. Undermining parental authority is a serious problem. It can jeopardize the well-being of your children, your relationship with them, and may prompt a return trip to court. 

Undermining Parental Authority

If you are a parent who is unmarried and living apart from your former partner or have gone through a divorce, you likely have a parenting plan in place. This details the amount of time your child spends in each parent’s home and grants legal authority in making decisions on the child’s behalf. The ability to put aside your differences for the sake of your child is key to making these arrangements work. 

Unfortunately, there are situations in which one parent attempts to undermine the other. Empowering Parents warns that this can occur in a variety of ways: 

• Playing good cop/bad cop, in which one parent leaves all disciplining to the other;
• Refusing to adhere to established schedules, such as those pertaining to bedtime, homework, or daily chores;
• Overindulging the child, such as buying excessive amounts of gifts;
• Bad mouthing the other parent in front of the child, which can include questioning their decisions and capabilities or blaming them for the failure of the relationship.

How to Deal With Problems Concerning the Other Parent

If the other parent is engaging in the above behavior or taking other actions to undermine your parental authority, it is important to take action. Not only does this type of behavior impact your relationship with the child, but it also creates confusion and insecurity for them in dealing with both you and their other parent. 

Under the Illinois Statutes, the ability to cooperate with one another in carrying out parenting plans is a factor the judge will consider when approving child-time sharing arrangements. If reasoning with the other parent does not help, you may need to return to court and request modifications limiting their time with the child. 

Contact Our Chicago Child Time-Sharing Attorneys

At the Women’s Divorce and Family Law Group, we know your child’s well-being is your top priority. To find out how we can help you protect them, contact our Chicago child time-sharing attorneys and request a consultation today.