Balancing a demanding career with parenting duties can be challenging, especially for divorced or separated parents who must create a parenting time schedule. When both parents have highly demanding careers, flexibility, communication and a child-centered focus are critical to creating a schedule that meets everyone’s needs.
You must consider your child’s needs and routine. Account for school or daycare hours, extracurricular activities, homework time and downtime. Remember that maintaining consistency, particularly regarding school and sleep routines, is vital for children.
Flexible scheduling
Given the demands of your careers, a traditional alternating weekend schedule may not work. Instead, consider a flexible schedule that accounts for your work commitments. This might involve alternating weeks, splitting weeks into two- or three-day periods or scheduling parenting time around business travel.
Include provisions for work-related issues
Your parenting plan should include provisions for unexpected work issues, like business travel, late meetings or emergency assignments. Decide how these will be handled. For example, a parenting plan could specify whether the other parent will step in or if a trusted third party like a family member or a babysitter will be used.
Make use of technology
Technology can be a valuable tool for managing busy schedules. Shared online calendars can help track who is responsible for childcare at any given time, and video calling apps can allow for virtual visits when a parent is traveling for work or working late. Using these virtual visits isn’t a replacement for in-person parenting time, but they can help to bridge a gap that’s present without them.
Communication is key
Clear and respectful communication is essential when coordinating a parenting schedule around demanding careers. Regular check-ins about upcoming work commitments can help prevent misunderstandings and last-minute changes.
Ultimately, you have to do what’s best for your children. These situations usually work best when the parents can get along well enough to co-parent. Having everything outlined in a parenting plan is beneficial since both parents can review the terms at any time and, if necessary, formally modify them if doing so is necessary to uphold their child’s best interests.
