There is a long list of factors you must consider when you establish a parenting plan and parenting time. Location, family schedules and, most importantly, your child’s best interests will all play an important role in your custody arrangement.
As we discussed in a previous blog post, the other factors that have a claim on your time, such as your work, can also affect your parenting time. Managing your time and balancing all of your tasks can be a challenge. So, what can you do to make the most of the time you have with your kids?
Of course, the parenting plan affects time
This is an important question to consider early on in the process of establishing a custody arrangement. After all, the agreement and schedule you establish will have the largest impact on the amount of parenting time you have in the future.
You must consider all of the details that can impact your parenting time proactively. That way, you can work to protect your parental rights as well as make a child-centered plan, as North Carolina policy encourages.
What else can you do to maximize time?
Regardless of the way you and your co-parent divide time with your children, there are steps you can take to make the best of your time. It can help to consider these four tips:
- Don’t be late: This applies to custody exchanges. There are two reasons you should show up at the agreed time. First, it shows your child they are a priority. Second, it reduces the risk of conflict with the other parent. Disregarding the exchange schedule can lead to much larger issues that can affect the custody agreement, especially if it is consistent or significant.
- Don’t pack the schedule: You may try to make up for what you feel is lost time or the time when the kids are with their other parent. So, you may want to plan various fun events to do together. This is especially common around the holidays or birthdays. Try not to plan too much in your calendar, and just enjoy daily life, spending quality time with your kids.
- Show interest: What is your child interested in? Learn more about their hobbies or their school activities, and engage with them. You and their other parent may have split up, but that makes it even more critical to show your children that you care and have genuine interest in their passions.
- Be present: This is often easier said than done. You may stress about losing time with your children, especially with that clock ticking down to the next custody exchange. However, it is important to live in the moment and enjoy the time with your children.
Focusing on your relationship with your kids is the most important step you can take. That is the foundation of making the most of your parenting time.