Life is back to busy now that the pandemic has lessened, and even then, life was still demanding.
This blog will discuss how to handle the schedules of “divorced families” and still have a balance in your life.
I remember speaking to a few of my divorced friends pre my situation. How do you balance it all? How can you be single, with kids, and still have a life of your own? A: You can; however, you must stick to your schedules for your sanity and kids’ sanity.
Becoming a single parent is one of the most challenging tasks one can take on, even if you have a good relationship with your ex. Decisions still must be made in the kids' best interest, their new life must be transitioned carefully, and you need to try and organize it all. Are you ready?
Thus, the schedules come into play, and so many combinations exist. When I asked my divorce lawyer, he said, “I have been practicing for over 30 years, and I have seen everything.”
What to consider:
1) How many kids do you have, and what are their ages?
2) Does everyone attend the same school if you have more than one?
3) Does each of them play sports?
4) Do they need transportation during times you are working?
5) What would be a good balance for you and your ex?
6) How can you work together not to make a chaotic schedule?
7) Can you back each other up?
8) Do you have an ex that is out of the picture? Are you the only one? In this case, can you hire some support or have friends and family that can jump in?
9) What is best for the kids?
There are many options to consider that help with custody boundaries (yours and the kid's).
Sample schedules are as follows:
· A week on Week off
· 2-2-3 2 days on, two days off, every other weekend
· Wednesdays and every other weekend (this was my schedule growing up in a divorced family, and I wouldn't say I liked it)
· What are your “weekends”? Thursday – Sunday a.m. / switch
o Friday, Saturday, Sunday
· 4-3-4
· What does your divorce decree say? Is it flexible?
There are excellent examples of joint custody on CustodyXchange. See one option below:
A 2-2-5-5 arrangement means that one parent gets two days with the kids, the other gets the next two days with the kids, the first parent gets five days with the kids, and the other gets the next five days with the kids. This is a two-week repeating cycle. It looks like this in the calendar:
Do what is best for the family and be flexible if possible.
Good Luck
Erin