The back-to-school season often involves numerous major transitions for families. Parents have to adjust to the drop-off process at the school, while the children have to remember their class schedules or get to know a new teacher.
Back-to-school season is a hectic time even for those in stable family situations. Those going through a difficult family transition, such as a divorce, may find the process that much more challenging. Especially if this is the first school year after parents separated or divorced, there may be many questions about how the family situation may affect the children’s schooling and vice versa.
What do parents need to know about shared custody and returning to school?
Expect academic fluctuations
Even the most studious young adults may experience some difficulty in school when their parents divorce. Factors including the level of parental conflict and the disruption to the parent-child relationship may influence how much a child’s grades shift and how long that disruption lasts.
Parents who provide a stable family schedule and who ensure their children have social and emotional support can diminish the likelihood of their children experiencing long-term educational setbacks because of a divorce.
Plan for consistent parenting coverage
If both parents work, the school year can reduce practical and financial pressure. Parents don’t have to pay for childcare during the school year or figure out who stays home with the children during the day. Still, the parents may need to show up for the children during the day.
Most schools have occasional days off and half days that can be disruptive for the schedules of working parents. Additionally, parents may need to respond quickly when children face disciplinary action or need to come home due to illness in the middle of the day.
A parent’s ability to meet those needs with little advance notice can influence the overall allocation of parenting time in a shared custody scenario. If a parent simply cannot leave their job, then they may not be able to handle weekday custody. Parents also need to have flexibility for field trips and other special events that may require parental attendance during the day.
The back-to-school season can put a lot of pressure on families that have recently gone through a transition. Preparing in advance for the custody challenges of the school year can help parents preserve their relationships with the children and minimize the disruptions the changing family circumstances may cause for them. Parents who plan carefully and have sound legal guidance when creating the custody plan are less likely to end up in a dispute or unable to meet the needs of their children due to conflicts between work and school schedules.
