The amount and frequency of the contact they have with their children is almost certainly related to the quality of the relationship they are able to achieve with their ex-wives. If this relationship is poor or non-existent, and contacts with children infrequent, there are few, if any, other means open to them of sustaining and supporting an active role in their children's lives. In terms of policy, it is crucial that legal processes and family law are supportive of parents in a way that acknowledges the complexities of post-divorce family life. The fathers in our study were particularly critical of the lack of dedicated support services. There is a sense that the family justice system does not give fathers support in renegotiating a meaningful role and relationship with their children.
Most fathers request help in finding a new role.
Their experience with mediators, welfare officers and lawyers is that the professionals somehow assume a continuity in the fathering role, without realising that it will never be the same as before. Finally, they valued opportunities for forming self-help groups. It is essential that post-divorce parenting be acknowledged as the difficult, challenging role it is. Second marriages may be at risk because of the severe problems one or both partners may experience in relation to contact arrangements or ongoing conflict with a previous spouse. The challenge is to support them in a new role.