Shared parenting can be an optimal solution for parents who both want to stay involved in their children's lives after a divorce. In a shared parenting arrangement, both parents spend about the same amount of time with the children and they share the responsibilities of raising them. This is positive for the parents and the children because they can maintain good relationships.
Shared parenting, also called joint custody and shared custody, requires that parents create a solid custody schedule. Often this is the most difficult part of this arrangement because there can be confusion trying to make the calendar equal between the parents. Creating the custody schedule requires a great deal of work.
Because both parents get equal time with the children there can be complications. The standard schedules of parents alternating weeks, every few weeks or every month may not work in all cases. The cases where they don't work very well are the ones where the children attend school and need more stability during the school year, or when the parents don't live very close by.
There are solutions when children need more stability during school year and the parents don't live close enough to switch custody that often. The easiest thing to do is to make a schedule where one parent has the majority of custody time during the school year--then make up the time the other parent lacks in other places. There are several options where the parents can make up the time.
One place the parents can even out the time is with the summer vacation months. For example, if during the school year one parent has custody during the week and the other parent has a visit during the week and custody on the weekends, the parents can switch that schedule in the summer. This would balance out the time.
Parents should also look at the other school breaks and make up time there. The parent who doesn't have custody during the school year should get extra time during winter and spring break. The parents can also look at the other school holidays and extend weekend or visitation time to the other parent.
All of this can seem overwhelming so many parents use a custody software to help them figure out their custody schedule. The software can be beneficial because it allows the parents to play with different options. The program should also keep you informed of the time-share percentage that each parent has with the children so the schedule can be fair.
Don't get discouraged as you're creating your schedule. It may take some effort to juggle around the different times and the ideas, but once you have it in place it will be worth it. Then you can enjoy shared parenting and the time with your kids.
Shared parenting, also called joint custody and shared custody, requires that parents create a solid custody schedule. Often this is the most difficult part of this arrangement because there can be confusion trying to make the calendar equal between the parents. Creating the custody schedule requires a great deal of work.
Because both parents get equal time with the children there can be complications. The standard schedules of parents alternating weeks, every few weeks or every month may not work in all cases. The cases where they don't work very well are the ones where the children attend school and need more stability during the school year, or when the parents don't live very close by.
There are solutions when children need more stability during school year and the parents don't live close enough to switch custody that often. The easiest thing to do is to make a schedule where one parent has the majority of custody time during the school year--then make up the time the other parent lacks in other places. There are several options where the parents can make up the time.
One place the parents can even out the time is with the summer vacation months. For example, if during the school year one parent has custody during the week and the other parent has a visit during the week and custody on the weekends, the parents can switch that schedule in the summer. This would balance out the time.
Parents should also look at the other school breaks and make up time there. The parent who doesn't have custody during the school year should get extra time during winter and spring break. The parents can also look at the other school holidays and extend weekend or visitation time to the other parent.
All of this can seem overwhelming so many parents use a custody software to help them figure out their custody schedule. The software can be beneficial because it allows the parents to play with different options. The program should also keep you informed of the time-share percentage that each parent has with the children so the schedule can be fair.
Don't get discouraged as you're creating your schedule. It may take some effort to juggle around the different times and the ideas, but once you have it in place it will be worth it. Then you can enjoy shared parenting and the time with your kids.
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