There are many things about which a divorced parent may be nervous when it comes to what will happen with their kids in the new family situation following a divorce. This includes how the transition will go when their child is going between their house to their ex’s house, and vice versa. Such transitions are a very common thing when a divorced couple is equally splitting shared custody or when a custody arrangement includes generous visitation time.
Such transitions can be an emotional time for a child, as well as for both of their parents. So, there are a variety of things about which a divorced parent might be worried in relation to these transitions. They might be concerned about the possibility of getting into conflicts with their ex during such transitions. They also may be worried about whether their child will have problems with the transitions.
There are preparations which parents can make to address these concerns and to try to help such transitions go as smoothly as possible. These include preparations during the process of negotiating and forming a child custody agreement in their divorce. These agreements can contain many different types of terms and can address a wide variety of issues and concerns related to child custody. Parents can go to and experienced Board-Certified expert family law skilled Child Custody attorney for guidance about what things can be done to address concerns they may have related to transitions in such agreements.
Additionally, there are preparations parents can make in the time leading up to a transition to try to help it go well. This includes:
- Letting their kid know about the transition in advance.
- Making sure some of the basics for their child (pajamas, a toothbrush, a hairbrush, etc.) are present at each parent’s home.
- Staying positive about the transition.
- Helping their kid pack ahead of time.
- Setting up special routines for when their kid returns from their time with the other parent.
- Being ready to give their kid space and keep activities low-key initially when the child returns from the other parent’s place.
- Taking positive steps as a Co-parent to normalize each child’s routine for consistency at both parents’ separate households.
Source: HelpGuide, “Co-Parenting Tips for Divorced Parents,” Accessed Oct. 24, 2017