Once your child hits school-aged, many parents fall into the routine where the "weekend" doesn't actually end until he or she drops the child off at school in the morning. This is becoming a more and more popular option, particularly if both parents live relatively close to the school.

By ending the weekend with school on Monday morning, it is a lot easier on the child (and parent) if they leave each other by going to school, rather than being dropped off back at the other parent's house on Sunday evening. Sunday evening drop offs tend to be painful for both the child and parent, particularly if they will not see each other in person until the following weekend.

It is important to stick with routine. For example, the weekend parent will need to make sure that on Sunday night, homework is checked, a lunch is packed, and any other last minute duties in preparation for school the next day are done.

You should also make a point of dropping of your child's weekend bag at the other parent's house, and picking up the weekend bag on Friday. This will save your child the ordeal of having to drag their life back and forth between school and the other parent's house.

Some parents who get along even share household keys, so they can quickly and safely drop off their child's bag. Or they will have a pre-arranged meeting place, or choose another drop off location where theft is unlikely to occur (on the back porch, or a storage shed for example.)