There is nothing more frustrating for you or your child than to set aside a date when you want to see them only to be unable to do so and to end up missing it. Missed visitation days are a significant problem for parents and their kids, which is why the court prefers that parents get to their dates on time every time.
That being said, there are times when changes may occur in your schedule or other responsibilities come up. You might need to request a modification of custody, so you can still see your child but also handle those responsibilities appropriately.
If you don’t have enough time to see your child physically, what can you do? You may want to consider switching to digital visitation, also known as virtual visitation, on some days.
How does virtual visitation work?
The way virtual visitation works is simple. From anywhere, you reach out to speak with your child. You can do so through video gaming together online, calling over a service like Zoom or Skype, calling before bed, or reaching out in other ways.
The nice thing about virtual visitation is that you don’t need to be physically present, so if you have a long day at the office or go on a business trip, you’re still able to have that time to connect with your child.
Virtual visitation isn’t a replacement for physical time together
Remember that options like virtual visitation are not replacements for actual physical time with your child. Virtual visitation should be considered as an add-on to your normal visitation schedule.
For busy parents and those who really cannot be present, virtual visitation may help them be “present” at sporting events, dance recitals, during bedtime or while their children do homework. It’s a beneficial addition to a custody schedule that grants more time without needing to physically be there.
If you think that this could be a good option for you, you may want to discuss the virtues of virtual visitation with your attorney and consider adding a request for it with your custody modification when you do.