As a Virginia family goes through a divorce, its members will need to contemplate and adapt to a number of changes. This is especially true when it comes to any children, who may feel as though they are and will continue to be in a constant state of flux going between two homes to see each parent. For this reason, parents who anticipate dividing the time with the children as evenly as possible will need to consider as many factors as possible when creating a parenting schedule.
Is an equal time-sharing in the child’s best interests? Do the parents live close enough to make a near even time split plausible? In order to get the most out of a shared physical custody situation and make it as easy as possible on the children, the parents ought to live as close to each other as possible. Even though they will need to set some boundaries, the shorter the distance the children need to travel, the easier it will be on them.
What will daily life look like for the children? Their needs and commitments also require a great deal of consideration. Parents will want to consider each child’s extracurricular activities, friendships and more when determining a parenting schedule. In addition, they will be going back and forth between two homes. How will the parents accommodate that? Moving from one house to the other needs to be as seamless as possible in order to help the children avoid confusion, frustration and stress.
Creating a parenting schedule is often one of the most challenging parts of a parenting plan. Each parent wants as much time with the children as possible, but certain circumstances must exist in order for it to work out logistically for the children. The children’s needs and interests will always take precedence over the parents’ desires, and keeping that in mind first may just make this part of the process go more smoothly.
