Parents often do whatever is necessary to offer their children the best opportunities in life. Sometimes, having the best income for the household or the most balanced division of parental responsibilities requires creative scheduling. Families might have one parent work at night while the other one works during the day as a way of maximizing income while ensuring there’s always somebody home with the children so they don’t have to pay for childcare.
Although the situation benefits the family as a whole, it can disadvantage the parent living the opposite primary schedule of their family members. The parent who works third shift may have a harder time showing up for family functions or enjoying daytime activities because of their unusual schedule. They may also worry about the possibility that the courts won’t give them shared custody in an Indiana divorce.
Custody arrangements can work around parental schedules
In general, judges dividing custody don’t just want the simplest schedule for the family. They want Arrangements that prioritize the best interests of the children. Children usually need the support of both parents to thrive, especially after a destabilizing experience like divorce. Therefore, family law judges will often do whatever is necessary to keep both parents involved, including creating custody orders that give both parents plenty of time with the children. The parents may have to work out their own schedule, but it can be possible to even maintain an even 50/50 split of parenting time when one parent works third shift.
Instead of quickly giving up and agreeing to unfavorable custody terms, a parent working third shift may need to assert themselves if they want to preserve their relationship with their children after their divorce. In some cases, it may be possible to request support so that a parent can adjust to reduced earning potential and move to a first-shift position instead.
So long as a parent keeps their focus on what is best for the children, they can likely pursue shared custody no matter how demanding their job is. Considering every option is often necessary for those who have children and are on the cusp of divorce or separation from the other parent of their children.