There can be nothing more upsetting to a parent than to see their child sick. We want nothing more than to be able to do everything in our power to make them feel better, and it is not uncommon for a parent to believe that they are the best one to take care of an ailing child. For single parents, if you and the child’s other parent no longer live together and are required to share parenting time, then having your child become sick can cause even more upset than in a two-parent family home.

Most likely, you and the other parent have a parenting time agreement in place which sets the schedule for when your child is with you and when your child is with the other parent. Although it might be tempting to keep your child home if he or she is sick because you want to be the one to nurse them, if it is the other parent’s time, then you cannot keep the child home with you.

Although it may not feel like it, letting the other parent nurse your child is emotionally beneficial for the child. It allows the child to feel a sense of security, knowing that the other parent will also keep her safe. It can also help build better communication between the two parents since you are both working together. It can send a message to your ex that you trust that they will take care of your sick child just as you would.

There are steps that you can take to alleviate your worry. Make sure that the other parent has the phone number of your child’s pediatrician. If there have been certain things you have been doing for the child, write the instructions down for your ex. If your child is on any kind of medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, it can be helpful to make up a chart so both parents can write down the time and dosage of the medication given.

If your child is too sick to leave your house to go to the other parent’s home – such as with the flu – that should not mean that the other parent misses out on their time. Invite the parent over to spend time with the child in your home.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to work to get along with your child’s other parent, they may still have so much acrimony towards you that it is almost impossible to co-parent effectively. If you are having custody issues, contact an experienced DuPage County family law attorney. Call Mulyk Laho Law, LLC today at (630) 852-1100 for a free consultation.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8300000&SeqEnd=10000000

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/TestsAndTreatments/Complex-Care/Pages/caring-sick-child-sharing-responsibility.aspx