Author
Tina
Parenting Apart
Tina writes Parenting Apart guides on holiday schedules, shared expenses, and keeping family records organised, with practical steps that make arrangements between two homes easier to follow.
Guides by Tina
Records
Preparing for a family mediation session
A little preparation helps mediation sessions stay focused. Know what you want to discuss, bring the practical details, and share only the records the mediator asks for.
2 min read
Expenses
What to do when you disagree about a shared expense
Disagreements about children's costs are common. Querying the specific entry, giving a reason, and proposing an alternative split keeps the conversation practical and quick to resolve.
2 min read
Handovers
Using school as the handover point
Handing over at school means children move between homes as part of an ordinary day. Here is how to make school handovers work smoothly.
2 min read
Decisions
Making school decisions together when you live apart
School decisions affect both homes for years. A shared process with deadlines, clear options, and written replies helps separated parents reach decisions calmly and on time.
2 min read
Records
Managing a child's medication between two homes
Managing a child's medication between two homes needs clear current instructions, a careful handover, and direct advice when anything is uncertain.
2 min read
Expenses
How shared care affects child support
Shared care can affect child support or child maintenance, but the rules depend on where you live. Learn what to record and which questions to keep separate.
4 min read
Handovers
A packing checklist for children moving between homes
Use this packing checklist for children moving between two homes, then adapt it around age, school, activities, health, and the length of each stay.
2 min read
Decisions
Agreeing screen time and phone rules across two homes
Screen time rules often differ between homes. Agreeing the essentials, such as bedtimes, online safety, and when a child gets a phone, keeps things consistent where it matters.
2 min read
Records
The information both homes need about each child
Both homes need the same key details about each child. Keeping health, school, and routine information current in one shared place avoids gaps and repeated questions.
2 min read
Expenses
Budgeting for regular children's costs across two homes
Regular costs such as clubs, childcare, and school expenses are easier to share when they are budgeted in advance. Here is a simple way to agree a monthly or quarterly plan.
2 min read
Handovers
Helping children settle when they move between two homes
Children often need a little time to adjust after moving between homes. Simple routines, familiar items, and shared information can make each transition easier.
2 min read
Decisions
Making medical decisions for your child when you live apart
Health decisions matter to both homes. Sharing information promptly, separating urgent from non urgent decisions, and agreeing treatment in writing keeps children's care consistent.
2 min read
Records
What to include in a parenting plan
A parenting plan sets out how children's care is shared between two homes. This checklist covers the topics most plans include and how to keep yours up to date.
2 min read
Schedules
Custody schedule examples: choosing a pattern that fits your family
Compare common custody schedules, including alternating weeks, 2-2-3, 5-2-2-5, and every other weekend, and how to choose one that suits your children's ages and routines.
3 min read
Records
Keeping family records and documents in one place
Store key documents together, keep arrangements in writing as they happen, and share only what a professional needs, when they need it.
2 min read
Expenses
How to keep shared children's expenses clear between two homes
Agree what counts as a shared cost, record each expense with its receipt, and settle on a regular rhythm so money stays a practical topic rather than a recurring question.
2 min read
Schedules
Planning school holidays across two homes
Plan school holidays early, write the dates into a shared calendar, and use a clear request process for swaps so children know where they will be.
2 min read