The Long Weekend Custody Schedule
Extended every-other-weekend: secondary parent takes Thursday or Friday through Monday morning. Roughly 70/30 split.
by The CoreParent Co-Founders · Last updated
In short
One parent has the children most of the time, and the other has a long weekend every two weeks, usually Thursday after school through Monday morning. In the calendar, that is 10 of 14 days with Parent A and 4 of 14 with Parent B, about 70/30.
How it works
Primary parent (A) has the children during the school week. Every other week Parent B picks up Thursday after school, keeps the children through Sunday evening or Monday morning. Parent B gets ~4 consecutive days every 2 weeks, roughly 30% overall.
A two-week example
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A |
| Week 2 | A | A | A | B | B | B | B |
Parent A has week 1 and Monday through Wednesday of week 2. Parent B picks up on Thursday of week 2 and keeps the children through Sunday night, taking them to school on Monday morning.
By the numbers
- Cycle: 2 weeks, then it repeats.
- Time with each parent: Parent A 10 of 14 days, Parent B 4 of 14 days (71/29).
- Exchanges: 2 every two weeks (1 per week on average).
- Longest stretch: Parent A 10 days in a row, Parent B 4 days in a row.
What makes it work
- School-day handoffs. Pickup at school on Thursday and drop-off at school on Monday means the parents rarely need to meet.
- Living within reach of school. Parent B handles two school mornings (Friday and Monday), so the drive to school has to be realistic.
- Using the extra days. The Thursday and Sunday nights give Parent B ordinary school-night time, like homework and bedtime, not just weekend outings.
Pros and cons
- More time than traditional every-other-weekend (Fri-Sun)
- Includes a school night, so Parent B sees school routine
- Minimal school-week disruption for the primary parent
- Still weighted toward the primary parent
- Thursday-Monday pickup can conflict with school activities
Best for
Parents living 1-2 hours apart where a full 50/50 isn't practical but every-other-weekend feels too thin.
By age
General guidance only. Every child is different, and what fits can change as they grow.
- Under 3: Ten days between long weekends is a long gap at this age. Child-development guidance generally favors short, frequent time with each parent at this age, so add short visits in between.
- 3 to 5: A midweek visit or call in the off week helps young children between long weekends.
- 6 to 12: A common fit, especially when Parent B can manage the Thursday and Monday school runs.
- Teens: Works if teens can keep their activities. Some prefer a Friday start.
Exchanges, holidays, and summer
- Exchange times: Two every two weeks: Thursday pickup after school and Monday drop-off at school.
- Holidays: Most plans lay a holiday schedule over the regular rotation, with major holidays alternating by year. The holiday plan wins when they conflict, and the regular schedule picks back up after.
- Summer: Many plans give Parent B a longer summer block, which brings the yearly time closer together.
Common variations
- Every other weekend: The shorter version: Friday through Sunday, every other week.
- 60/40 split: Adds more weekday time for Parent B, for a split usually called 60/40.
- Adding a midweek dinner: A dinner with Parent B in the off week shortens the long gap between weekends.
Common pitfalls
- Thursday activities. Practices or lessons on Thursday need a plan for who drives in Parent B's weeks.
- Monday mornings. Forgotten homework or gear on Monday is common. Pack the school bag on Sunday night.
- The long gap. Ten days apart is a lot for some children. Plan calls or a short visit in between.
Frequently asked questions
What split is a long weekend schedule?
In this calendar, Parent A has 10 of 14 days and Parent B has 4 of 14, about 70/30.
How is it different from every other weekend?
It adds Thursday and Sunday nights, so Parent B has 4 days every two weeks instead of a Friday-to-Sunday weekend.
How many exchanges are there?
Two every two weeks: Thursday pickup and Monday drop-off, and both can happen at school.
Is it good for young children?
The 10-day gap between visits can be long for very young children, so many families add short visits or calls in the off week.
Put it on your calendar
In CoreParent, choose Custom Schedule in your parenting plan and write out the Thursday-to-Monday weekends, or start from Alternating Weekends if your weekends run Friday to Sunday. Share it with your co-parent, or keep it to yourself.