How do you handle it when kids come back from other parent upset or tired?

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1w ago1 min read

My 7yo comes back Sundays usually pretty wound up or cranky. Ex lets them stay up late watching movies and eating junk all weekend. I get the kid back and they're basically a nightmare to deal with Monday morning before school. I've tried talking to her about keeping some kind of routine but she says I'm trying to control her parenting time. Not trying to be difficult, just want what's best for the kids. How do other guys handle this?

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Comments(2)

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VVincentNew Dad1w ago

Yeah this is rough with four kids at different ages and schedules. What helped us was setting up a routine that's consistent on our end, no matter what happens their other days. Boring dinner, calm activities, early bedtime. It actually helps them feel grounded again.

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FFrank K.Regular1w ago

Man, I feel this one hard. With three kids bouncing between households, I've learned the first hour back is just about decompression. I usually keep things low-key Sunday nights, skip the big plans, and let them settle in naturally. They'll regulate back to normal in a day or two.

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