How do you handle parenting time when one parent is unreliable? | DadHQ

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How do you handle parenting time when one parent is unreliable?

7h ago·1 min read

My ex is supposed to have the kids every Saturday but cancels like half the time with no notice. My kids get upset, I have to figure out childcare last minute. We don't have anything formal in court yet, just a verbal agreement. I know I should have gotten it in writing but we were trying to stay friendly. Now I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet and involve the courts to actually enforce something. Does that make me the bad guy?

3 comments149 views

Comments(3)

DDerekNew Dadjust now

I feel this in my bones. Unreliable co-parenting is one of the hardest parts because it's not just about you, it affects the kids emotionally every single time. Have you been able to talk to her about how the cancellations are impacting them?

MMikeNew Dadjust now

That's brutal, man. Half the time is basically no consistency at all. You need documentation of every cancellation - dates, times, texts. Not to be petty but if this is ongoing, your lawyer needs to know because it affects your custody agreement.

MMikeNew Dadjust now

This happened with my ex for a while. The kids would get excited and then disappointed over and over. We had to sit down and establish consequences for cancellations, like making up time on specific dates that couldn't be moved. It took a few rounds but eventually stuck.