my ex wants our kids to live with him for a week and me for a week

[stephj84]

ok so yesterday my ex dropped the kids home and dropped it on me that he had talked to the kids and they all want to live with him for a week and then with me for a week and so on, ive never stopped them seeing their dad and i would never he is a good dad im just a bit worried about this i dont want to disrupt my kids its such a change in routine for them but its what they want and id feel awful saying no because they need their dad as much as they need me. maybe im being selfish and dont want to share them i dont know but my first worry is how will it affect my kids does anyone else share their kids like this, am i making a mistake by letting them try it out?

Just wanted to add - though i dont have any experience of it myself - that 50:50 is the default arrangement here in Belgium - I know lots of people that do it and it seems to work fine. Means that the dad can stay fully involved and the mum can have a social life!! It's so much the norm that some companies are introducing flexible working hours to accommodate it! One week longer, one week shorter hours.

All credit to you to consider this!

It sounds like you have a sorta reasonable relationship with your ex (which is good for your kids) so it should be possible to come up with something that is in their best interests.

If there are various sticking points organise a good neutral mediator. They will find the things you agree on, narrow down the issues and help you come up with something that works for everyone - most of all your kids.

There's a lot of research to proves that children who have a meaningful relationship with both their parents (i.e. far more than the tired old every other weekend and midweek contact for dad' regime that some cling onto on the grounds it's normal') do better emotionally and academically.

Nice one!

Overall the research is inconclusive and there is no real evidence that shared parenting 50:50 is any better or any worse than any other arrangement after parents separate. The majority of children from separated families have much the same outcome as those from families whose parents stay together.

What STIDW said - here: Mon 24-Sep-12 22:42:39

I think that your ex and you should sit down with the children and discuss it together. Then the two of you can sit together privately and work out what is best. Maybe even use a mediator.

A week is a long time for a three year old to be without either of you IMO. Even the six year old might struggle. The older one will probably adapt well becuase it seems that at that age they don't like to tote their belongings to and fro very much and like to know where they are. But all families are different and this may be perfect for yours. I don't like the idea that there is a default whether that be EOW, week on/ week off... or anything else.

Friends of mind have had this arrangement with their now 6 and 9 year olds for the past two years.

It works perfectly as far as I can see. They do handovers on friday nights at the house they are going to. They dont swap posessions between houses - they simply live at both.

My ex did this with his ex iyswim - the kids seemed pretty okay with it once they got into the swing of things. In some ways I guess it makes it easier on them because they know that this week they're with mum, next week with dad, rather than having to remember which day of which week it is.

been forced unwilling into this myself - very unhappy about it for my dcs-cafcass said 'they requested it' , my kids are young primary and guess what - it is what the father wanted since the separation. Crock of total ...t as far as Im concerned, appears to be the idea of the moment and will disadvantage the dcs, me, but not ex who will be able to offficially shirk all financial responsiblity while still working as has flexible employer. I will not be able to work and wont be a full time mum either so feel very weird about it...court has'nt considered the financial implications and evidently doesnt have to - But if one parent will be impoverished as a result of this shouldnt they take it into account? - given up trying to understand rationale here; I know lots of mums wish their dcs father more involved - believe me - I envy you ladies who cant get fathers to see much of kids - thank your lucky stars. Ive been very happy as a single mum and am devastated will be losing my kids when pretty sure its all about the money and not what is best for the children at all - ex had very generous access already and Ive never been obstructive. Truly loathe my solicitor now as feel she gave ex everything while Ive paid through the nose and got fifty percent less of the time with my young children. Told I could 'gamble' in court if I wished but had better agree to be seen as being reasonable 'or else' - wtf?

aokay, why wont you be able to work? And why will you be disadvantaged?

Hi steph.
It's great that your kids have a good relationship with their dad. Research shows that kids work just as well with 2 homes- Mum & Dad. I would suggest that you try and work some arrangement with him whereby the children can extend contact?