Modern technology means that it is now much easier to talk with people, even when you are on the other side of the world from them. It’s not just businesses that have made use of this reality. Courts have begun to realize how technology can help divorced parents keep in touch with their children. Formalized arrangements of this kind are commonly referred to as virtual visitation.
If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity when co-parenting, you may need to set some virtual visitation rules. You’ll need to find a way for the parent who is away to speak with the child without causing too much disturbance to the child’s enjoyment of time with their other parent or to the other parent.
Examples worth considering
Example one: It’s your child’s birthday party, and just as you are about to bring out the cake, your co-parent rings to speak to them. Your child is left torn. They fear their other parent will be offended if they don’t take the call, but they also want to get on with celebrating the moment with you and the others present.
Example two: You are away on military duty and get a rare chance to ring your child. When you ring and ask your ex to pass you with your child, they reply that you’ll have to call back later as they are waiting for a customer to call. You try to explain you can’t be sure when you can get a signal again, but they cut you off, and you don’t get another chance for days.
If you think virtual visitation could play a role in your parenting arrangements, consider seeking legal guidance to set some ground rules. When making this effort, try to anticipate the kinds of scenarios that your family – uniquely – may struggle with if you and your co-parent don’t work out your expectations in advance.