News staffer Isabella Johnson (left) with her father, mother and sister in November 2008. Isabella feels that having parents with split custody of her and her sister has made her life different, but not worse, than if her parents were married. Photo courtesy of Sasha Baker
News staffer Isabella Johnson reflects on what it’s like growing up with parents who have split custody, and how that has changed her day-to-day life.
Like plenty of other students at Clarke Central High School, my parents split up.
They did this when my sister Sophia and I were very young, so I don’t really remember them ever being together. What I do remember though is both of them being there for my dance recitals, violin concerts and everything else that was important to me as a kid. I remember my dad and stepmom’s wedding, and I remember birthday dinners with both my parents and stepmom.
My parents have shared custody of me and my sister, which means that we go back and forth between their houses . While I’m extremely grateful to be able to see both of them, it can complicate my day-to-day life.
If I leave something at one house, I won’t have it for at least the next few days. During the cross country season, I have to pack twice as many clothes when going to my dad’s so I’ll have clothes for practice. Sometimes I forget to text one of my parents about how I’m getting home until it’s already the afternoon because I hadn’t seen them that morning.
That said, the biggest and only real complaint I have about going back and forth is that I don’t get to see my brothers full time. Tumelo and Yonah are my half brothers on my dad’s side, and I only see them when I’m at his house.
Missing things like their birthday dinners, concerts or plays has always really bothered me because I want to be there for them.
Like with anything, it’s not all bad. If I dislike something about one house, being away from it makes me appreciate what I do like about it. While having two households may be different, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
