Michigan parents and parents in other states want to know what they are expected to do about custody and parenting time during this critical time of Coronavirus with school closures affecting so many families. They ask: Must I follow the existing parenting time order? As with so many child-related queries, the answer must be: "That depends."
The Michigan State Court Administrator's Office has produced an advisory Download Covid-19.CustodyPT-FAQ
This Advisory Bulletin provides explicit details about what the Michigan courts are expecting co-parents to do with respect to existing custody and parenting time orders. The important thing to remember, as always, is that if you reach an agreement with your co-parent about changing the terms of parenting time, it is important that both parents agree in a text or email (in other words, be sure to have it in writing--even it that is a text or email).
But, of course, things can change any day. Here is a link to a resource, the journal Education Week, free access to all for this specific information. These are School Closings, State-by-State: [updated at least once a day and at least once on weekends]
Surviving Parenting Time While Working From Home (WFH): Many, if not most, schools are providing online instruction. Sadly, many children live in households with no Internet access. That will make it more difficult for some parents to figure out how to keep children happy and busy. Finding resources--preferrably free resources--is important to our families and family child caregivers.
Even with Wi-Fi access, if a parent is WFH . . . there are natural tensions as the children's use of the Wi-Fi causes the signal to slow down. One of the organizations concerned about how to keep children happy and busy is a 403(b) charitable organization named Prevent Child Abuse--a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to promoting services that improve child well-being in all 50 states and developing programs that help to prevent all types of abuse and neglect.
RESOURCES at Prevent Child Abuse include the following:
Tips for Staying Connected
Tips for Staying Active & Engaged as a Family
Tips to Manage Stress & Anxiety
. . . . And more
LINK TO SHARE WITH OTHERS: (A Tinyurl)-- https://tinyurl.com/yx2l7m9w
UPDATES: Please consider subscribing to this Blog. There are two ways to do that. Feedblitz: Subscribe by typing your email address by clicking on "Subscribe" on the lefthand side of the page, just under the big H in the banner. You'll then receive an email from Feedblitz each time the Blog is updated. If the topic doesn't appeal . . . that's what the delete button is for. OR RSS Feed: There is a link to subscribe by RSS feed just above my photo on the left hand side of the page. We don't sell your information to anyone and you can unsubscribe easily at any time.
