Parenting a child who has special needs is difficult, especially when those needs are intensive. A complex medical diagnosis or a challenging mental health condition can really put pressure on the parents as they try to ensure that the child’s best interests are considered with every decision.
When parents of special needs children divorce, finding ways to put the child first in the parenting plan might be a complex endeavor. Fortunately, if you are willing to be flexible and take issues one at a time, you might find that it is easier.
One of the primary concerns when you have a medically fragile child is making sure that they always have the care and resources they need. Often, this means having costly medical or adaptive equipment on hand. Having these items at two homes might seem impossible. However, this is when you and your co-parent need to work together to figure out how to handle the matter.
Some parents of special needs kids turn to the bird’s nest parenting style to minimize the costs and provide continuity for the child. Instead of shuffling the child back and forth between homes, the child lives in one home while the parents take turns staying at that home. This is a bit unconventional, but making it work can benefit the child.
Urgent decisions are part of life for these parents. Deciding how to handle these decisions when things aren’t dire might help immensely. As you and your ex work out your custody arrangement, put the specifics in your legal documentation. This helps prevent misunderstandings and provides a tangible place to look for answers when something comes up.
