4 Ways To Make Timesharing Exchanges Easier For Your Children

In Florida, after a divorce, both parents have the right to spend time with their children as long as the court agrees that it is in the children’s best interest. If you are a divorced parent in Florida, you most likely have a parenting plan which spells out which days or nights you are to spend with your children and which days or nights your children are to spend with their other parent. Unfortunately, timesharing exchanges can be tricky, partly because they require you and your ex-spouse to see each other frequently. It can be challenging for you and your ex-spouse to exchange children and coordinate parenting time appropriately. Timesharing exchanges are also hard for children, if not harder. Having to move between houses regularly can be very hard for children. Luckily, there are things you and your ex-spouse can do to make timesharing exchange easier for your children.

Below are some of the things you can do to make timesharing exchange easier for your children;

Consider Drop Offs Instead of Pick-ups

According to some sources, dropping off children is better than picking them up. From a psychological perspective, when you pick up children from their other parent’s house, the children and the other parent might feel like you are “taking” the children away. Also, if, for example, children have to pack, a parent being there waiting to leave can cause stress to the children. So, consider dropping off your children at your ex-spouse’s house and letting your ex-spouse drop off your children at your house.

Be Respectful

Whether you are about to drop your children off at your ex-spouse’s house or have them picked up, ensure you don’t say negative things to your ex-spouse in your children’s presence. One of the primary reasons children have emotional breakdowns or feel uncomfortable during timesharing exchanges is because their parents treat each other with disrespect during the transition. Your children may, for example, refuse to go to the other parent’s house if they are worried about how you and the other parent interact. To ensure timesharing exchanges are not stressful for your children, you should remember to put your emotions aside and remain calm and respectful.

Have Someone Help With the Exchanges

If it is impossible for you and your ex-spouse to interact without fighting, you can have a family member, friend, or neighbor help with timesharing exchanges. You can have a family member, friend, or neighbor be the one who accompanies your children to your ex-spouse’s car or picks them up from the car when they get back.

When it comes to picking someone to help with timesharing exchanges, it is vital that you choose someone who can be calm and pleasant to everyone.

Consider Asking for Supervision if the Other Parent Is Uncooperative

If, after all your efforts to work with your ex-spouse to facilitate smooth timesharing exchanges, your ex-spouse still finds a way to make these interactions difficult, you can consider asking the court for supervised exchanges. For instance, you could do exchanges with a social worker present. Speak to an attorney about the problems you and your ex-spouse are having to learn what will work best for you.

Contact a Fort Lauderdale Family Attorney

If you need help with a timesharing-related matter, contact skilled and dedicated Fort Lauderdale family attorney Joyce A. Julian today.