Is 50/50 Timesharing Overrated?

Across the border in Florida, a new law recently went into effect, whereby the family law courts must assume that 50/50 timesharing is in the child’s best interest; in cases where courts decide about parenting plans because the parents are at an impasse, the courts must take the equal division of parenting time as a starting point.  The judges will likely find that a truly equal division of parenting time is not practical for most families.  Alabama does not have a default time sharing scheme that it considers an ideal; it is up to families, and in some cases judges, to decide what is most appropriate for each child and his or her parents.  If you are trying to figure out what life will be like if your children are with you only half of the time, contact a Birmingham child custody lawyer.

Parenting Time Is About Quality, Not Quantity

The little things are the most rewarding part of being a parent.  Seeing your child run toward a Christmas tree surrounded by presents is a peak experience, to be sure, but it only happens once a year; seeing your child save the marshmallows for last in a bowl of Lucky Charms is equally rewarding.  Plenty of divorced parents fight over who gets Christmas morning, but school day mornings are just as valuable.

For some families, having the children alternate houses every school week is stressful for everyone.  For others, spending Monday and Tuesday night with Mom and Wednesday and Thursday night with Dad is not much better.  It is a challenge for children to keep all of their school materials organized and have to deal with different stepsiblings bugging them on different nights while they try to do their homework.  Equal time sharing just isn’t workable for some families.

Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is to accept that maybe it is in your children’s best interest to spend school days with your ex-spouse.  This is especially the case if you work long hours during the week, or if at your house but not at your ex’s, younger half-siblings provide constant distractions.  You can still see your kid save the Lucky Charms marshmallows for last on weekends and during the summer, and you can still attend every school play, swim meet, or whichever other extracurricular activities your child participates in through school.  Each family is very different and the timesharing needs and abilities simply must be evaluated on a case by case basis.

When Is Equal Time Sharing Appropriate?

Dividing parenting time evenly is more feasible for some families than for others.  It works best when the parents live close to each other and when the extended family is closely involved in the child’s care.

Contact Peeples Law About Being Practical About Co-Parenting

A Birmingham family law attorney can help you draft a parenting plan that your family can live with, even if it doesn’t come out looking Instagrammable.  Contact Peeples Law today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

custodyxchange.com/locations/usa/alabama/parenting-plan.php