Our house has been on the market a whole 5 days and it would appear that it will sell quickly.<P>Lawyer wants list of division of property and we are discussing how we will handle kids. I have been a very active father to the point that I always took time off when the kids were sick. I have been room parent and very active in other ways with the kids.<P>Wife wants to have kids change place where they reside every two to three weeks. I think this is out of the question as I would like to see them every day but I do believe they need to be in the same bed every night.<P>Anyone have any ideas on dealing with the kids? I don't want to be a visitor in their life I want to be an active participant on a daily basis!<P>Help!

How old are your children? If they are very young, I think that is way too much time away from one parent. I have read that every other day is best for very small children. As they get older, I have heard a week at a time is ok. I think 3 weeks is way too long for any child to be away from a parent. <P>I am the custodial parent of my kids but my x has 50% visitation rights. He sees the kids on Tues, Thurs and every other weekend. <P>The kids seem to be adjusting well to this schedule. My children are 3 and 6.<P>Good luck.<P>

I agree, three weeks is way to long away from your kids especially if you've been an active daily parent. My ex and I have a 50/50 time share with my daughter. I have her Monday after school till the following monday except she gets to pick her up for an overnight dinner visit on wed. into thurs. then the time is reversed for the other parent the next week. (ie, I get the dinner visit on wed.) This all seems to be working fairly well and my daughter is adjusting nicely. She's 7 and now knows where she'll be and when and this way we both have uninterupted weekends with her and never have to go more than four days without seeing her. Good luck. Jax

I am wondering about this shared custody idea. My W and I may end up divorced and I want to do what is best for the kids. They are 4 and 7. <P>I think the 3 week idea is too long for small kids. Maybe during the summer time it would work when they are out of school, but not during the school year. I think they have enough pressure with school and need to see both parents as much as possible.<P>If my W and I divorce, I want to try to keep the house. This whole thing has been her idea and she is the one who wants out. People have said that I would have to buy her out. Anyone know how that works? I know it is just a house, but I thought that if I could keep it, the kids would have one less thing that would change. I know there are bad memories with the house, but I think I can deal with it. I love the place and would hate to lose it. <P>Any ideas?

We are going to try and be involved with the children daily. Anything else seems nuts! They have been involved with each of us daily since they were born why should it be different now!<P>We are both trying to buy home in the same school district to facilitate kids being with each of us daily.

My house just went under contract and I found another (much smaller) one yesterday and made an offer on that.<P>My x is planning on renting an apt. nearby so he can see the kids as often as possible.<P>He is a great Dad and I would never keep him away from his kids even though I don't like what has happened between us. He actually sees them much more than allowed in the visitation agreement, which is fine with me. I'm so glad he wants to see his kids. <P>I hope you are able to see your kids daily. Let me know how you plan on doing that.<P>Good luck!<P>Jen

My x sees children every Tues. and one night each weekend. We alternate those. They schedule is : Week 1 - Friday - Mom<BR> Saturday - Dad<BR> Week 2 - Friday - Dad<BR> Saturday - Mom<BR>and so on. We do occaisionally need to trade nights and do it willingly. Children's organized activities, such as birthday parties, ballet, soccer, etc. preempt either parent's plans. <P>They were 2 and 4 when we sttarted this. Now they are 5 and 7. <P>My opinion is, he started this, he can starve to death before he sees them EXCEPT for the fact that THEY need him. One day they will see him as he is. In order for them to do that, they have to know him. And children with both parents active in their lives have fewer problems later.<P>I had to refinance the house in my name and pay off the scumbags debts in order to get a quitclaim deed on the house. I had no job, hadn't had one in 8 yrs., and had to give the slime $42K. No wonder I don't like him.