Co-parenting from different homes is challenging under the best of circumstances, and now you’re forced to do so during a pandemic. Check this link for some very sound guidelines that were issued earlier in mid-March, but which are still very relevant in putting your children’s welfare first. PARENTING GUIDELINES DURING COVID-19 FROM AAML AND AFCC
Unfortunately, as of the date of writing this blog, the Seventh Circuit, Volusia County, Florida has not issued any orders regarding how to navigate time sharing under the current “stay-at-home” order of Governor DeSantis. Currently nothing prevents following your normal time sharing schedule under your Parenting Plan, but that could change. For now, you must simply continue to put your children first.
Try to imagine all the precautions you would take if you knew your child had a serious immune disorder and could not risk even getting a cold. If both parents discuss the steps you would take to protect an “at risk” individual and then follow through with that protocol with your children, there should be little risk and worry of your children going back and forth between homes. Having said that, if there are obvious reasons it is better for your children to remain in one environment over another, then let them remain at the home where they and others will be most safe. For example, if there are individuals in one environment that are safer without children around (elderly, immune deficient or other at-risk individuals) or there are other factors that put the children themselves at risk, leave the children at the other home for the immediate future. Remember, though this could last for some time, it is nonetheless temporary. Your children are your most precious treasures and should be treated with your utmost love and care during this challenging health crisis.