If a job loss has affected you, then be honest with the other parent

October 23, 2020

This year has been tough for a lot of people, and with the holidays approaching, it could be even harder. You may have lost a job and gotten a new one or you could still be looking for work.

As a single parent who shares custody of your children, this is one time when flexibility would be to your benefit. Trying to find work and make time for meetings when your children are with you can be hard, and missing an appointment could mean that you’ll miss out on a job that you desperately need.

So, what can you do when you’re struggling as a parent and are out of work?

When one parent is struggling, both need to talk it out

The first thing to do is to talk to the other parent about your concerns. If you are struggling because of being laid off, losing a job or just needing more time for your job search, then it may be helpful for you to ask the other parent to step up and take over more custody time.

If your finances have changed, you may want to ask for a temporary increase in support or that the other parent keeps custody of your children more often until you get back on your feet.

The goal in any situation like this is that both parents will act with grace and be reasonable with each other. When the economy is poor and finding work is hard, a parent who is more stable may need to step in and help in any way they can so that their children can continue to live in comfort despite the challenges that their parents are facing.