First, Third, and Fifth Weekend Custody Schedule
Michael J. Peterson, Attorney
Co-parenting requires thoughtful consideration and effective planning to ensure the well-being of children while accommodating the diverse schedules of both parents. One popular custody arrangement is the "First, Third, and Fifth Weekend" schedule, offering a structured routine for children to spend quality time with both parents. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of this schedule, exploring its benefits, potential challenges, and practical tips for making it work.
Understanding the Schedule
The "First, Third, and Fifth Weekend" custody schedule is a rotational arrangement where children spend specific weekends with each parent. In a month with five weekends, the child typically stays with one parent on the first, third, and fifth weekends, alternating between parents in subsequent months.
Example and Visual Representation of First, Third, and Fifth Weekend Schedule
Week 1:
| Day |
Parent A |
Parent B |
| Monday |
School |
School |
| Tuesday |
School |
School |
| Wednesday |
School |
School |
| Thursday |
School |
School |
| Friday |
School |
Pick up |
| Saturday |
Weekend |
Overnight |
| Sunday |
Weekend |
Extended Weekend |
Week 2:
| Day |
Parent A |
Parent B |
| Monday |
School |
School |
| Tuesday |
School |
School |
| Wednesday |
School |
School |
| Thursday |
School |
School |
| Friday |
School |
N/A |
| Saturday |
Weekend |
N/A |
| Sunday |
Weekend |
N/A |
Week 3:
| Day |
Parent A |
Parent B |
| Monday |
School |
School |
| Tuesday |
School |
School |
| Wednesday |
School |
School |
| Thursday |
School |
School |
| Friday |
School |
Pick up |
| Saturday |
Weekend |
Overnight |
| Sunday |
Weekend |
Extended Weekend |
Week 4:
| Day |
Parent A |
Parent B |
| Monday |
School |
School |
| Tuesday |
School |
School |
| Wednesday |
School |
School |
| Thursday |
School |
School |
| Friday |
School |
N/A |
| Saturday |
Weekend |
N/A |
| Sunday |
Weekend |
N/A |
How it works
- School: Child attends school.
- Weekend: Child spends the weekend (Friday night to Sunday night) with the designated parent.
- Overnight: Child spends the night (Saturday night) with the designated parent.
- Extended Weekend: Child spends the entire weekend (Friday night to Sunday night) with the designated parent.
- Pick up/Drop off: Parent picks up/drops off child at school or another designated location.
- N/A: Child is not with this parent on this day.
Benefits of the Schedule
- Consistency and Predictability:
- The schedule provides a predictable routine, allowing children to anticipate when they will be with each parent.
- Clear structure minimizes uncertainty and contributes to a stable environment for the child.
- Quality Time:
- Longer weekends allow for extended periods of uninterrupted quality time between the child and each parent.
- Parents can engage in meaningful activities, fostering stronger emotional bonds.
- Flexibility for Parents:
- The schedule accommodates parents' work commitments, social engagements, and personal plans.
- Predictable visitation weekends provide a balance between co-parenting responsibilities and individual lives.
Challenges and Strategies
- Longer Gaps between Visits:
- The schedule may result in longer periods between visits with one parent.
- Address this challenge through consistent communication, phone calls, and video chats to maintain a strong connection.
- Coordinating Activities:
- Collaborate on coordinating extracurricular activities and events to ensure both parents remain involved in the child's life.
- Maintain open communication about any scheduling conflicts and work together to find solutions.
- Consistency in Routines:
- Establish consistent rules and routines across both households to provide a stable environment for the child.
- Regularly communicate about any changes or adjustments in daily routines to avoid confusion.
Success Tips
- Effective Communication:
- Open and honest communication between co-parents is crucial.
- Utilize shared calendars or co-parenting apps to keep each other informed about important dates and events.
- Flexibility and Adaptability:
- Be willing to adapt the schedule when needed, considering the child's needs and unforeseen circumstances.
- Prioritize the child's well-being over strict adherence to the schedule.
- Encourage the Child's Input:
- Depending on the child's age, involve them in discussions about the schedule.
- Encourage open communication and address any concerns or preferences they may have.
Conclusion
The "First, Third, and Fifth Weekend" custody schedule offers a structured framework for co-parenting that balances consistency, quality time, and flexibility. By prioritizing effective communication, flexibility, and the child's well-being, parents can successfully navigate this schedule and provide a supportive environment for their children to thrive.
Other Custody Schedules
Typical 50/50 Custody Schedules
Popular Summer Custody Schedules
- Full time entire summer, alternate weekends and one overnight per week during fall, spring and winter - 39%
- Entire summer, alternate weekends, and one evening per week - 30%
- Every other weekend, one overnight per week, one month during the summer, and half the holidays - 29%
- Every other weekend, one evening/week, four summer weeks and half the holidays - 28%
- Every other weekend, one month during summer and half of the holidays - 23%
- First, third and fith extended weekend - 24
- Every other weekend and half the holidays and summer - 22%
- Every other weekend, four weeks of summer and half the holidays - 21%
- Every other weekend, two weeks during the summer and half the holidays - 19%
- Every other weekend and two weeks during the summer - 18%
- 2 Weeks only during the summer break - 4%
Popular Weekend Parenting Arrangements
Warning:
This post is neither financial, health, legal, or personal advice nor a substitute for the advice offered by a professional. These are serious matters, and the help of a professional is recommended as it can impact your future.
