Remaining flexible is a big help when you are in the midst of a child custody situation. It is imperative that you follow the rules and guidelines that are set by the parenting plan but being able to adjust those to meet your child’s needs can benefit everyone. One area that you might need to alter every now and then is the parenting time schedule.
When you and your ex need to swap out time with the children, the need must be clear. For example, you can’t just say that you don’t want your children on a weekend they are supposed to be with you because you want them on your ex’s weekend unless there is a good reason.
What constitutes a good reason is up to you and your ex. Maybe the reason you need to switch weekends is that you have family coming in from out of town that would like to spend time with the kids or maybe you have tickets to a special event. Having an idea of what can lead to changes in the schedule can make it easier to deal with these.
Another thing to think about is that you need to be flexible if you want your ex to be flexible with you. One parent can’t always expect to be the one who bends. That isn’t fair, so remember that mutual compromise is a must in these situations.
If you and your ex find that you are switching time often, you might need to reevaluate the schedule. There is a chance that it just isn’t right for your needs any longer and that you need to have something else set. Just remember that your children and their needs must come first in these situations.