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Any Shift Workers with 50/50 custody?

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  • Any Shift Workers with 50/50 custody?

    Wondering about a possible scenario:
    Ex & I have been doing week about for past 5 yrs.
    I've been unemployed since Nov, 2012.
    I'm going to apply for a job that would require me to work a 12 hr rotating
    schedule. Basically working 7 out of 14 days.

    Although Im PRETTY sure the kids father will adjust how we've been
    doing things, I also want to be prepared for resistance.

    I'm hoping he will agree to exchange kids as I work & am off.
    Do any of you work 50/50 access while working shift work?

    Thanks! Hope you are all enjoying the hot weather!

  • #2
    It depends on what kind of shift pattern you will be working. Will you be working a continental shift 2-2-3 or 4 or 4 off?

    I work the continental 2 weeks of days and then 2 weeks of nights. We have done it the following ways and it works well:

    I had the kids on my two weeks of days and the ex had them on my weeks of nights. We rotated weekends, I have them on my two weekends off and ex has them on the two weekends I work.

    Now that the kids are older, I have them on my weeks of nights. I can drop them off and and pick them up from school. I sleep while they are school. My mom comes to place 4 times a month while they are sleeping.

    This works well for us because the kids don't do alot of back and forth and we are both able to follow through activities, rules and when needed consequences. There is little adjustments because the kids are with one parent for most of two weeks.

    I have co-worker that switch every time they have days off. Depends on your kids needs and what works best.

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    • #3
      Thanks for your reply Nosuchluck,
      Unfortunately its a 2-2-3 rotation so a little more back and forth will need to go on. I'm thinking it will be fine with the kids as they often make/ask for flexibility in the schedule anyways, and their Dad and I never have a problem with it.


      The kids school are in walking distance to my house so you never know when the kids (our son usually) will ask if he can walk home and spend the night. We always say yes. Sometimes if our daughter doesn't want to go out to the trailer (not as many girls out there), she will stay at her Dads and make other plans.
      So, I'm thinking the kids really won't mind this. I will certainly talk to them about it when the time is right, but I'm a little concerned with the ex.

      To be honest, I'M not IN LOVE with the idea of it, but it's a great opportunity!!

      I feel that a good job is reason enough to want to change the time we spend with the kids. Any thoughts on that?

      Son is 11 (in Sept) and Daughter is 13.

      Comment


      • #4
        First of all, you having a job is good. I doubt your ex would complain just because it has shiftwork.

        Second, you are only applying at this point. Jobs are very hard to get! I wouldn't do all this agonizing until you are actually offered a job. It's only unnecessary stress.

        Let him know that you are applying for many jobs, some of which require shiftwork, and IF you get one of those, the access arrangements will need to be reorganized. Then you can give him lots of time to adjust to the idea. Or he'll say it's a bad idea, and if you can't convince him otherwise, you can drop out of the process. Then he has only himself to blame if you are still unemployed at CS adjustment time and he has to pay more.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Rioe View Post
          First of all, you having a job is good. I doubt your ex would complain just because it has shiftwork.

          Second, you are only applying at this point. Jobs are very hard to get! I wouldn't do all this agonizing until you are actually offered a job. It's only unnecessary stress.

          Let him know that you are applying for many jobs, some of which require shiftwork, and IF you get one of those, the access arrangements will need to be reorganized. Then you can give him lots of time to adjust to the idea. Or he'll say it's a bad idea, and if you can't convince him otherwise, you can drop out of the process. Then he has only himself to blame if you are still unemployed at CS adjustment time and he has to pay more.
          Lucky bugger doesn't have to pay lol. (Another story)
          You are right that I shouldn't stress about it & just deal with it as it comes.
          I will let him know I am applying.

          Comment

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