As a parent in San Antonio with primary custody of your child, you have many different factors to consider if you ever wish to relocate. For example, will it benefit your child? Will it provide them with more opportunities to grow or flourish? Or will it possibly affect them negatively?
The short answer is, it might. The American Psychological Association states that there are both short and long term negative effects associated with relocation after a divorce. This is due to the fact that your child’s emotional and personal growth can be interrupted by something as traumatic as moving directly following another large upheaval (the divorce itself). Your child can experience behavioral issues, and could have trouble making friends at their new school or place of residence. They could even begin building resentment toward you if they are unhappy with the move, especially if you are viewed as the catalyst.
Some studies also show that in addition to interpersonal relationships and social skills taking a hit, children can also develop issues such as increased anxiety or stress. Your child may be unable to form proper coping methods for these new issues, which can exacerbate them and cause even more anxiety in their future and lead to issues in school, or looking further down the road, issues with their jobs in the future.
You likely consider it extremely important to secure your child’s happiness and well-being in the future. For that reason, it is often stressed that the impact of relocations after a divorce should carefully be considered before any decision is made.