The summer is almost over, and school is just around the corner. While this is typically a hectic time for most families, it can be even more challenging if you and your co-parent share a custody agreement for your child.
Knowing how the summer-to-school transition may impact child custody ahead of time can reduce stress and uncertainty when the time arrives.
Family schedule changes
For your family, the introduction of another school year likely means changes to the parenting time arrangement to account for your child’s school schedule. The custody arrangement should allow your child to see both parents while reducing the stress of frequent moves between households.
If you and your child’s other parent know how you want to handle the school-year schedule, you can note it in your original parenting agreement. If you decide to make changes later, there is also the option to make custody modifications.
Emotional challenges
For many children, back-to-school anxiety is already a concern. For children in split households, the changes to parenting time and the prospect of seeing one parent less can create additional emotional challenges. You can help prepare them by focusing on stability. For example, you can practice school-year routines, such as bedtime and picking out clothes for the next day, regardless of which parent they stay with.
Starting another school year can be an exciting time for families, and there is no reason it has to be stressful simply because you have a child custody agreement and split parenting time. By knowing what to expect and the possible challenges that lie ahead, you can make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone.