| In a divorce there is almost never a more | | | | medical care. Add into that the fact that there |
| contentious issue than that of parent custody, or | | | | could be the need to have a fair amount of at |
| put simply, which parent has the kids living with | | | | home care and therapy as well and I think you |
| them. This issue becomes that much more | | | | can see why this can be a cause for incredible |
| magnified when at least one of the children is a | | | | discussion during the divorce. |
| special needs child. But why is this? There are a | | | | 3.Simple ability to deal with all of this - It takes a |
| few simple reasons. | | | | special type of person, even as a parent to |
| 1.Care of the child - In most cases, both parents | | | | successfully raise a special needs child. One thing |
| love all the children, special needs or not, greatly. | | | | that you have to take into consideration is that |
| Unfortunately though, when it comes to a special | | | | the child in some cases, may never get past the |
| needs child though, love may not be enough. | | | | point of needing care. In some cases, there can |
| There can be a great amount of patience | | | | be enough development and progress that the |
| required with a special needs child, and a great | | | | child can eventually be on their own, but this will |
| amount of understanding, not only of their | | | | usually only come after years of therapy and |
| condition, but also of their individual habits, | | | | patience. Even people who may otherwise be |
| tendencies, and quirks that make them who they | | | | great parents may not be able to deal |
| are. Some of these can be magnified by | | | | successfully with a special needs child. It is not a |
| whatever is affecting them. Something with their | | | | failure on their part, just a simple fact, just as not |
| condition may cause a certain reaction that a | | | | everyone is cut out to be a rock star or a CEO. |
| similar situation wouldn't for a regular child. This | | | | As you can see from these few examples, this is |
| could be something as simple as a child focusing | | | | not an easy thing to deal with, much less decide |
| on a television program, or as dangerous as | | | | upon. It could be something just as simple as that |
| violent outbursts toward either themselves or | | | | one parent is able to deal with things and the |
| others. This obviously is something that needs to | | | | other is not. Granted I for one don't know of |
| be discussed in any parent custody discussion. | | | | many parents who would be willing to admit that |
| 2.Cost and Time of Medical Care - There is usually | | | | they can't take care of their own children, and |
| a far greater cost in both time and money to the | | | | that is where the contention comes in. Parents of |
| medical care needed for a special needs child as | | | | special needs children, more than any other need |
| compared that of a regular child. With a good | | | | to examine the parent custody issue very, very |
| insurance plan, a great deal of the monetary cost | | | | closely and make sure that they are looking at |
| for the child can be covered, but what that | | | | what's best for the child and not simply what |
| doesn't count is the amount of time it takes to | | | | they want. |
| get the child back and forth from all of their | | | | |