If you have to share custody of your child with your ex, one potential problem that you may run into is that they are a Disneyland parent. The term “Disneyland Dad” has always been very popular, but it’s important to note that both mothers and fathers can act this way toward their children.
So what is a Disneyland parent, and what are they going to do? And what potential problems could this raise for you?
Focusing on fun
Many parents just want to have fun with their children, and their heart is in the right place. They want the custody time they spend together, which is now so limited, to be memorable and enjoyable. But this can manifest itself in negative activities, such as:
- Spoiling the child by buying them too many gifts or buying them gifts that are too expensive.
- Only having fun and neglecting to focus on things like school or discipline.
- Not having any rules in the house or being very lax about how the rules are enforced.
- Not setting up routines that can give the child stability.
There are a lot of potential problems here. One thing is that the other parent may be trying to manipulate the child to prefer them over you. There are also times when parents spend all their money having fun and then say that they can’t afford to pay child support or something of this nature.
If you do find yourself in any sort of conflict that impacts your custody rights, be sure you know what options you have.