Divorce brings many changes and a new school year can heap challenge upon challenge for newly divorced parents who are managing children’s schedules from two different households. The first school year can be especially difficult as you come up with new strategies for managing the new and old problems that come with having minor kids in school. Here are four situations that Illinois parents frequently encounter during the school year and some suggestions for handling them smoothly.
Homework and School Projects
It is important for parents to be on the same page about enforcing homework rules and expectations. This is especially true for bigger projects and tests that can take weeks to complete or prepare for and which may require supplies to be moved between households. The more a routine can be predictable and simple, the easier it will be for kids and both parents to follow.
School Lunch
Whether your child buys lunch at school or takes lunch with them is less important than everybody knowing what to expect. After all, the last thing you want is for a kid to be surprised at school with an empty lunch account balance and a hungry stomach. If a child is eating school lunch, make sure you discuss how to manage the costs (this can be a great issue to address in your parenting plan). If you need to reimburse the other parent for the cost of food, do it directly through them, not your child.
Field Trips
Field trips can be an exciting part of the school year but they can require extra planning and flexible hours. Make sure you have a plan for communicating field trips, parental consent forms, and pickup/dropoff hours that occur outside of the normal school times.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
It is important to attend parent-teacher conferences so you can get an idea of how well your child is doing at school. If you can get along well with your co-parent, it is a good idea to try to attend a session together. If not, just schedule separate appointments. Make sure the teacher has the details he or she needs about your parenting arrangements and be prepared to discuss any effects the divorce may have had on your child’s behavior in school.
Meet with a Lombard Family Lawyer
With any number of things that can go wrong during the school year, having a great parenting plan should be a top priority during your divorce or custody negotiations. For help designing a parenting plan that will make the school year less stressful, call the experienced DuPage County family law attorneys at A. Traub & Associates. When you work with us, your family’s well-being is our priority and we will do everything we can to make the transition smooth and flexible for your kids. Call us today at 630-426-0196 to schedule a comprehensive consultation.
Source:
https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/blog/5-school-situations-and-how-handle-them-as-co-parents