Spending time with your children is probably the highlight of your day. When you are divorced and co-parenting, you might not get that chance daily, so making the most of the time you do have together quickly becomes a priority. It is important to remember that you don’t always have to do special things with your children. Instead, it is fine to just have normal family time.
One way that you can help your child adjust to spending time with you is to ensure that the child custody exchange is calm and without any stressful elements. When you and your ex meet for the swap, you shouldn’t discuss matters that are likely to start an argument.
Children need to have security and feel like they are safe. When they see their parents working as a team, they start to feel as though they can relax despite having to live in two homes. It also gives them a chance to realize that neither parent is trying to get them to choose one over the other.
When your child gets to your home, they might need some quiet time to make the mental adjustment to being there. Remember that you can plan for this by having a quiet dinner at home and then watching movies. Depending on the parenting time schedule you follow, there might be plenty of time to do other things before they make the transition back to their other home.
Your parenting time schedule is vitally important in these matters. Following it lets your children know when they will switch homes and helps them to make the most of their time with each parent. Unless there is an emergency, you should make every effort to follow that schedule.