If you share custody of your kids with your ex-spouse, you need a plan for shuffling the young ones in your family between two households. These custody transfers can be a source of contention, especially if you and your ex-spouse are not on particularly good terms. Your children also may not be too comfortable with your custody transfers.
You can take steps both to keep your former spouse happy and to ease the transition for your kids. Here are some helpful ways to make your custody transfers go smoothly.
Establish a routine
As a parent, you understand the importance of having morning and bedtime routines. After all, routines are good for kids and parents alike. Therefore, you should try to come up with a routine you and your children go through to prepare for each custody transfer. This helps set realistic expectations for everyone in your family.
Pack the night before
It is a good idea to gather medications, homework, clothing, toys and other essential items the night before your custody transfers take place. This gives you time to inventory your packing and find missing items. You may even want to invest in special luggage to help your children enjoy the packing process.
Include some spare time
Everyone runs late from time to time. If you are regularly tardy to your custody transfer site, though, your ex-spouse may run out of patience. Consequently, if possible, you may want to build in some extra time to allow for traffic and other delays. If you know you are not going to arrive on time, it is advisable to notify your ex-spouse as early as possible.
Ultimately, while your custody transfers are likely to get easier over time, it is advantageous to get them right from the start.