Time-sharing arrangements force parents to limit how much time they spend with their children. Each adult spends a certain amount of overnight time with the children.
While this arrangement can be frustrating for the parents, it helps facilitate healthy parental bonds for the children. Unfortunately, not everyone subject to a time-sharing arrangement consistently fulfills their parental responsibilities. In some cases, they may show up late consistently or may cancel with little advance warning. In such cases, the parent dealing with schedule disruptions may need help addressing the issue.
Modifying the court order could help
There are numerous negative consequences that follow one parent deviating from the time-sharing schedule. Obviously, their unreliable conduct puts pressure on the other parent. People may have to remain very flexible with their scheduling for work and social events due to concerns that the other parent may not arrive on time or might cancel. They may have to use paid leave from work or cover the cost of child care.
The children may feel rejected because of the other parent’s cancellation. If cancellations become a pattern, that rejection can cause self-esteem issues and depression symptoms.
Parents frustrated by regular cancellations and late arrivals can begin documenting the situation. Records showing a pattern of irresponsible behavior and an inability to follow the time-sharing arrangement could help the other parent take legal action.
A family law judge may agree to modify the current time-sharing arrangement based on the conduct of the chronically late or absentee parent. In some cases, significant adjustments to the time-sharing arrangements may also influence child support orders.
Addressing co-parenting issues that negatively affect children and put an unfair burden on one parent may require a return to family court. Divorced parents may need support as they seek to enforce or adjust time-sharing arrangements, and that’s okay.