Most parenting plans address regular schedules, holidays, vacations and transportation arrangements. However, many parents overlook an issue that inevitably arises at some point: illness. Whether it is a child with the flu or a parent recovering from a serious medical condition, sickness can quickly disrupt even the most carefully organized custody schedule.
To that end, including clear sick-day provisions in a parenting plan can help to minimize confusion and conflict when these situations occur.
Why make this effort?
When children become ill, co-parents may have very different opinions about what should happen next. One parent may believe that their child should remain in one home until they recover, while the other may expect the regular parenting schedule to continue. A parenting plan can establish expectations regarding temporary schedule adjustments, medical appointments, medication administration and communication about a child’s condition.
For example, parents may agree that the parent caring for a child during an illness will promptly share information about symptoms, diagnoses and treatment recommendations. The plan may also address how emergency medical decisions will be handled and whether virtual parenting time should be offered if a child is too sick to travel.
Parents should also consider what should happen when one co-parent or the other becomes ill. A parent recovering from surgery, dealing with a contagious illness or experiencing a significant health issue may be temporarily unable to exercise parenting time as scheduled. Without clear guidelines, disagreements can arise regarding whether parenting time should be modified and how missed time will be made up.
Some parenting plans include provisions allowing parents to request temporary schedule changes during illnesses while encouraging reasonable cooperation between the parties. Others establish procedures for offering make-up parenting time when a parent’s illness prevents them from caring for the child.
Illness is a normal part of life, but it can create significant stress for co-parents when expectations are unclear. By addressing both child illnesses and parental illnesses in advance, an entire family can benefit from less stress and greater clarity.