The school year is fast approaching if it hasn’t started already. With so many changes every year, you might have gone into this next season of life thinking that your parenting plan was in good shape, but you may quickly realize that it needs some changes.
School always makes parenting time and parenting plan issues a little more complex, because you have to account for where your child is going to be and how you’re going to divide time with them. While it would be your preference to stick with the plan that worked all summer, it’s likely that you’re going to have to make some updates.
Adjusting scheduling during the school year
Imagine starting the school year with the same schedule you had in the summer. You switch custody mid-week, and your child stays with each parent a few days at a time.
During the school year, this adds an element of complexity. You have to make sure the bus driver picks up and drops off your child at the right location. You have to be sure that they’re ready for school on time at two different times in the morning depending on where they are. You have to be sure your child has all their educational materials at both homes. Overall, everything gets just a little trickier.
Fortunately, you and the other parent can talk to each other and determine if the plan is working or if you need to make changes. Maybe you’ll want to adjust the parenting time or schedule throughout the week. Perhaps you need to take a new approach to how you help your child with schoolwork or the agreements you have on extracurricular activities.
Schooling changes from year to year, so it’s not unusual to have to make adjustments. If there are any major changes, it’s worth it to discuss the new arrangements you want and to submit them to the court for approval. Doing this will make sure that you and the other parent are on the same page and working together in the future while considering what’s in the best interests of your child.