When children play sports, it can be difficult for divorced co-parents. Perhaps one of your children is in hockey, for instance. They have practice every day and they play tournaments on the weekends. It makes for a rather chaotic schedule.
There are some steps you can take to make things go a bit more smoothly for you and your children. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when setting up your child custody plan.
Be involved
It is certainly important for both parents to be involved with their children. Try to make time to go to games or tournaments. Remember that divorce can often be hard for children and seeing that their parents want to be involved gives them a sense of stability and belonging.
Communicate with your co-parent
When schedules get chaotic, you do need to communicate with your co-parent. Even if the two of you are not on the best of terms, put your children first. Be open about what your schedule looks like, what you’re available to do and how the two of you can balance this hectic time of the year.
Be flexible
Additionally, remember that you may need to be flexible. Maybe a practice or a tournament gets moved. Everything isn’t going to fit perfectly within the confines of the child custody schedule. This is not as simple as it would be for parents whose children don’t have any extracurricular activities. But flexibility and being willing to adjust the schedule when necessary can eliminate a lot of disputes and stress.
Ideally, planning in advance can help a tremendous amount. Your schedule will be set up to reflect the realities of your child’s lifestyle. Be sure you know what legal options you have and what steps to take as you create a parenting plan and a custody schedule.