Parents who are divorcing have to think about how they’re going to work as a parenting team to raise their children. This isn’t always easy, but having a solid parenting plan in place can help to reduce the stress associated with the situation.
One aspect of a parenting plan is the schedule that will be followed. This should include the main schedule, as well as special schedules.
Parenting time and the day-to-day schedule
One of the most important pieces of any child custody arrangement is the parenting time schedule. This outlines where the child will live and when they’ll be with each parent. Some families follow a week-on, week-off routine. Others use a 2-2-3 split or alternate weekends. The right schedule depends on the child’s needs, the parents’ work lives and how close the households are to each other.
A detailed schedule should include school days, weekends and transitions between homes. It’s also helpful to address how last-minute changes should be handled so there’s a clear system in place when life gets unpredictable.
Vacation, holidays and special occasions
Custody agreements should also account for holidays, school breaks and vacations. Setting clear expectations for how vacation time is planned—and how much advance notice is needed—can prevent a lot of confusion and disagreement later. It’s also smart to include how travel expenses are handled and whether out-of-state or international trips require special permission.
The parenting plan should reflect the child’s best interests, so you should keep that as the focal point as you work to determine the terms. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial.