It’s July, which means for parents on the Islands, school supplies are just around the corner. In family law, the back-to-school transition can be tricky for co-parenting families — so here are three things to keep in mind as the new school year approaches.
Have a plan for returning to routine. The first week or two of school is a difficult transition for most kids, and the best summer custody arrangements I see typically have children returning to the primary custodian about a week before school begins. This gives everyone time to reset bedtimes, wake-up times, and daily routines before the calendar flips. If you don’t have this in place yet, reach out to your co-parent now and start that conversation. It may mean adjusting other parts of your summer schedule, but smoother first weeks of school are worth it.
Have a plan for the first day. Is your relationship with your ex one where you can both show up for those First Day of School pictures? If so, work out the where and when ahead of time — one less thing to navigate the night before. The same goes for any orientation events beforehand. If you’re not quite there yet with your co-parent, these moments are actually a great opportunity to start building that bridge. Your child will notice having both parents present, and it sets the tone for the bigger milestones ahead — graduations, weddings, and everything in between.
Pay attention if something seems off. Mid-summer is, unfortunately, one of the most challenging times of year for co-parenting relationships — second only to the December holidays. It’s rare that a summer passes without a case involving a non-custodial parent attempting to prevent a child from returning to the custodial parent before school starts. Watch for changes in the tone or frequency of communications with your co-parent, unusual questions about passports, or evasive responses when exchange logistics come up. If something doesn’t feel right, call a family law attorney now — before a manufactured “emergency” has a chance to disrupt your child’s start to the school year.
One of the best parts of early August is seeing back-to-school pictures all over social media. Here’s hoping every kid on the Islands is flashing a bright, happy smile — thanks to a little planning and great co-parenting efforts.
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