It is natural for divorcing parents to want what is best for their children. Therefore, many agree on 50/50 parenting, with the child living one week with one parent and the following week with the other. While some parents make that work, many struggle with it because of their obligations in life. You are not alone if you think alternate-week parenting is not the right choice for your child.

Separation anxiety

Young children often find that seven days is a long time to wait to see their other parent again. This can lead to separation anxiety and other problems, including depression and social isolation. When a child is worried about the parent they are not currently living with, it is difficult for them to concentrate on their studies. Older children may find it challenging to make friends if their parents live in two different neighborhoods because they may get left out of numerous activities.

Work obligations

Some parents do not work from eight to five Monday through Friday, so they may find it challenging to properly supervise their children and take care of their work obligations. For example, nurses and first responders often must work on weekends and after the child is out of school. This leads to scenarios where the parent is not getting to spend quality time with the child, even during the week.

Childcare expenses

Finding childcare that will only charge you when your child attends is nearly impossible. Therefore, the divorced couple must pay for two childcare slots on topof their family law expenses. One for when the child is living with mom and another when the child is living with dad, which can be very expensive.

There are many reasons that alternate-week parenting may not be the best choice for your child. If this is true for your family, consider speaking with a counselor or mediator to help you decide on a better parenting plan.