As a parent, one of the most challenging aspects of the divorce process is often child custody and the impact that getting divorced will have in terms of your relationship with your child and their relationship with the other parent. Sometimes, parents have feelings of guilt, and these feelings prompt some parents to stay in dysfunctional marriages.
However, you should not sacrifice your happiness and try to make a toxic marriage work out solely because you worry about custody issues. In some instances, unhappy marriages cause children to suffer as well, whether kids witness domestic violence or constant arguing. Additionally, you should look at data on custodial parents and keep in mind that many other parents are in this position.
Statistics shed light on children and non-custodial parents
The U.S. Census Bureau published a report on custodial parents and their kids. According to their findings, roughly 21.9 million kids under 21 had at least one parent living in a different household during 2018. Put another way, 26.5% of children under the age of 21 had a mother or father who did not live with them in the same household.
Challenges custodial and non-custodial parents face
You could face a number of difficulties, whether you have sole custody of your child or are a non-custodial parent. Census Bureau data found that 30.1% of children who had a parent living in another household lived in poverty during 2018, roughly three times higher than children with both parents living in their home. Custodial parents can also struggle to receive the child support they deserve. On the other hand, you could owe child support to the custodial parent. Some non-custodial parents struggle to pay support and face harsh penalties for falling behind.