Handbook for Parents 3
Co-parenting

3) How to maintain your relationship with children who don’t live with you

If your children do not live with you, it is natural for you to worry about the potential distanced relationship, which leads to kinds of negative thoughts. For example, you may think they are better off without you, or reduce meeting your children because of your reluctance to see your ex-partner, or because of children’s indifferent attitude towards you. Please remember, children need parents’ continued support, love, and nurturing. Your children might be scared from the shattered relationship or intense fights you had with your ex-partner, therefore you will need to spend extra time and effort to rebuild their security and trust. If children are able to receive love and maintain stable relationships with both parents, they are more likely to have better self-esteem and healthy development.

Perhaps you have been too busy in the past or for other reason neglected your children. You can build a close relationship with your children by spending time with them one-on-one, and in many different ways.