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Is 50/50 parenting time a realistic scenario?

Deciding on a parenting time arrangement after a divorce or separation is not usually a straightforward undertaking. One increasingly common arrangement is 50/50 parenting time, where each parent has an equal amount of parenting time with their child. 

If you and your child’s other parent are going your separate ways, that arrangement may seem attractive or repulsive. It may seem doable or impossible. No matter what your unique circumstances are, you need to do what’s uniquely best for your child and your family. 

Potential benefits and drawbacks of a 50/50 parenting time arrangement

If you and your co-parent are both fit parents, quality time with both parents can support your child’s emotional and psychological well-being. A 50/50 parenting time arrangement can also be perceived as fair, as it helps to ensure that both parents maintain significant roles in their child’s life. It allows both parents to share responsibilities and joys relatively equally, from daily routines to special moments. Additionally, if both parents agree to an equal split, it can reduce conflict and resentment, promoting a more cooperative co-parenting relationship. 

With that being said, achieving a 50/50 split requires careful planning and coordination, and may not be reasonable under all circumstances. You and your child’s other parent must consider your work schedules, your child’s school and extracurricular activities and other commitments when evaluating the feasibility of this approach. 

It’s additionally worth considering that frequent transitions between homes can be disruptive for some children, impacting their sense of stability and routine. Younger children, in particular, may find it challenging to adjust to constant changes in their living environment. And, if you and your co-parent have a difficult time communicating civilly with one another, managing a schedule in which your child is frequently navigating between your two homes may prove to be too stressful for everyone involved. 

Ultimately, the matter of whether a 50/50 parenting time split is a workable scenario depends on each family’s unique circumstances. You will need to assess yours as objectively as possible before committing to a plan of action.