One of the most difficult parts of children splitting their time between two homes is the day when they switch from one to the other. The conflicting emotions, being happy to see one parent and sad to leave the other, can make the situation even more challenging.
It’s up to both parents to ensure they’re doing what they can to make these transition days as easy as possible for the children. These tips may be a good starting point.
1: Prepare the children
Children thrive on consistency, so knowing when they’re going to move from one house to the other is likely beneficial. You’ll have to consider the best way to do this based on your child’s age and understanding.
2: Plan the transition
In most cases, it’s best for the person who has the children to take them to the other parent. This allows the children to adjust to the fact that they’re transitioning to the other home. For some children, this is better than having to guess when their other parent will show up to pick them up.
3: Keep everything peaceful
Transition is hard enough for the children without having any added stress during the transition. Any issues that need to be discussed with your co-parent should wait until the children aren’t present.
The parenting plan should establish the rules for transition day so both parents know what responsibilities they have and what to expect. This should include the parenting time schedule and any rules that apply.