Holiday childcare

[LDA123]

I have always been home with the children / worked part time so that we’ve never had to worry about childcare in the school holidays.

Now that we have separated and I am trying to find full time employment to support myself and the children, just wondering what people normally do about the school holidays.

Obviously Stbexh has never had to think about this before and has always worked full time without ever taking time off to look after the kids.

I am the primary caregiver and they go to him EOW. We have 4 children, 3 in primary.

Is if reasonable to split the childcare in the holidays? For example, I take care of Monday to Wednesday and he deals with Thursday and Friday (whether that’s him looking after them or arranging holiday club etc).

Is this realistic or does the primary caregiver normally end up having to take the full burden?

If you could tell me your arrangements, it would be much appreciated.

I don’t have any family in the area.

Think it depends on the couple and how amicable/ flexible / close you live etc

idealy he’d have them half holidays ( might be you have one half term he had another rather than splitting each holiday in half ) and whoever has them pays for childcare or works out their own annual leave to accommodate

Have you spoken to him about it? Ideally you work together for what’s best for the children. Maintenance is based on overnights so if he’s having the half holidays it won’t end up being EOW over a whole year.

If it helps I have eow and 1 evening a week with my ex. We split all school holidays and each is responsible for the dc on their time. He travels with his gf a fair bit so he now knows that if he cannot have them during his time it is his responsibility to provide childcare.