Now that the school season is in full swing, it is time to think about what you are going to do if special situations present themselves this school year. For parents who still live together, making plans for who will pick up a child from school if the school closes early or the child is sick isn’t a huge ordeal. Even holiday plans aren’t a big deal.
For parents who aren’t together any longer, these situations might take a bit more thought since they will have to think about the child custody aspect of the case. If you fall into this group, here are some points you should remember.
Discuss the issues with your ex
You and your ex might need to sit down and have a discussion about what is going to happen if something unexpected occurs. It is important to abide by the child custody agreement, but there are times when you and your ex might need to come up with a one-time plan.
For example, if your child is sick and you are working two hours from home that day, your ex might be able to pick your child up from school instead of your child having to sit there waiting on you for two hours. The more you and your ex can work together, the better your child is going to benefit.
Plan as early as possible
The holidays are usually a contentious time for child custody cases. Both parents likely want to spend the big holidays with the child. One thing that some parents have been doing is spending the holiday with the child at the same time, but this means that you and your ex will be in the same place for the entire day. An alternative is to sit down together to determine how the child can enjoy making memories with both families. Trying to make these plans now can help you to avoid a last minute rush.
Decide what will happen for school breaks
Breaks from school require special planning, especially for younger children, because you have to address the child care issue. If one parent is able to watch the children, this might be a feasible solution. Family members and babysitters might also be possible answers to this situation. This is another issue that should be addressed as soon as you have the school schedule so that you aren’t trying to find someone to care for the children the night before the break begins.