Separations can be tough, and sometimes separated parents have unresolved anger towards each other which can make moving forward difficult for the children. Children pick up on more than we realize sometimes, so for some families it may be best to limit communications only to those that are necessary and to have communication in writing when possible.
While you should make best efforts to co-parent that shows your children there is nothing to stress over, sometimes taking a break from face-to-face communication is best, at least while things settle down.
If you are not under a court order regarding how exchanges occur or if you have the ability to agree to other options, one option is exploring alternatives to face-to-face custody exchanges.
There are many alternatives to face-to-face exchanges that can make the transition easier for your children, including:
- Right Time KiDS
- Giggles Drop-in Childcare
- Triangle Family Services
- Police Station
RightTime KiDS is a drop-in service for children ages 18 months to 12 years old. This service allows divorced parents to drop their children for up to a few hours until the other parent can pick them up. This can alleviate some of the stress of meeting your co-parent face-to-face and allow the children to have a fun exchange experience.
There are no membership fees, contracts or appointments required they are open late night and during weekends. Right Time also has a meal plan option so you won’t have to worry about making sure the kids are fed. First time customers are given two free hours of childcare, per child, at any location.
Similar to RightTime, Giggles offers daycare services, drop in childcare services, after school care and summer camps to children of all ages.
Triangle Family Services’ Supervised Visitation & Exchange Program allows parents to drop off and pick up children for visitation in order to make the transition from one parent to the other as smooth as possible. This service ensures that there is no contact between parents at any time, keeping children away from any potential anger or conflict that may occur when the parents meet face-to-face.
The exchange program is open on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, Saturday from 1:00 to 7:00 pm, and Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Each monitored exchange costs $35, and reduced fees may be available in case of financial need.
Police Station
If domestic violence is an issue for you or you fear being accused of domestic violence, a police station may be the best place for an exchange. Police stations are public places, help avoid altercations between you and your co-parent, and are free to use for your exchange.
No matter your situation, there are options to ensure your custody exchanges run smoothly for you and your children. For more information, contact a child drop-in service or our experienced Raleigh divorce lawyer today.
