There are many different custody and visitation schedules available and my goal is to help you learn all you can about your options. The alternating weeks and 2-2-3 schedules are options which fall under 50/50 joint physical custody. Both of these schedules have their pros and cons. The biggest thing for you to consider when choosing a schedule is picking the best one for you, the other parent, and especially your child.
Requirements for 50/50 joint physical custody:
50/50 joint physical custody is a popular option in today’s court system. They want to see that you and the other parent have the capability to make it work. Here are a few things needed to make either of these schedules work:
-Parents must be able to get along and work together for the benefit of their child
– Parents need to live in close proximity to each other and the child’s school
-Both parents need to have a stable home environment.
Alternating Weeks:
The alternating weeks schedule is very simple and easy to apply. Your child spends one week with you and one week at the home of the other parent.
The benefits of this schedule is that your child has a longer period at each home which creates more of a sense of belonging. They can easily stick to their routine and not have it interrupted to “change houses”. Some children also find this schedule creates less anxiety and stress in their lives.
The biggest downfall with this schedule is making sure your child is old enough and emotionally able to spend a whole week away from the other parent. To help that weeks non-custodial parent and the child, some families will have a dinner one night a week to stay connected.
2-2-3
The 2-2-3 schedule is also very simple and easy to follow. It is not as simple as the alternating weeks just because there are more exchanges. Your child will spend two nights with you, two nights with the other parent, and the three weekend nights back with you. The following week the schedule is switched with the other parent having your child the first and last of the week.
The benefits of this schedule is your child spends time with each parent each week. The schedule is simple once it gets going. Also the weekends rotate between parents unlike some other schedules.
The biggest thing to think about with this schedule is will your child be able to handle all their responsibilities while changing homes multiple times a week? Think about school, friends, and extra-curricular activities. It can be confusing for both the parents and the child to stay up on homework, projects, etc. unless they are all committed to communicating frequently.
Conclusion
It is also important to realize the custody schedule is only a small part of your parenting plan. I highly recommend you really spend your time researching how to create a parenting plan and all the different tools available to help you with these changes in your life. Good luck!
