More than likely, Texas parents who decide to end their marriages do so because the conflicts between them have become too much to sustain the relationship. They decide to go their own ways and file for divorce. As part of the divorce process, they need to determine how custody and visitation will be handled.
The courts still use the standard of ensuring the best interests of the children. For many decades, that meant that one parent (most often the mother) would receive primary custody and the other parent (most often the father) received visitation. This presumably protected the children from the conflict between the parents. Unfortunately, it also essentially took one parent away from the children.
Fortunately, many courts across the country, and perhaps some here in Texas, are realizing that the best interests of the children actually requires regular and more equal contact with both parents. Studies show that children do better when they have more access to both parents. When parents sit down to create a plan that will work for their particular family, they often focus on making sure that the children have as near equal time with each parent as possible.
Even in the midst of a divorce, parents are recognizing more and more that they can put aside their personal feelings for each other in order to continue to be there for their children. In fact, many are able to find a way to get along post-divorce that allows them to spend time together with the children. Finding the balance that makes everyone happy may take some time, negotiation and tweaking, but once it is found, everyone benefits, especially the children.
Source: Boston Herald, “Shared parenting improves divorce outcome for kids“, Gail Rosenblum, Sept. 10, 2017