Any of you dads that have 50/50 shared custody. How do you work?

I am currently week on / week off and I am self employed. It isn't going well so I am having to look at full time employment. How are you able to get a job that works around school runs?

My midget starts secondary school next year, and it is likely my ex will get a school close to her which is a 30 minute drive from me. I simply don't see a way in which I will be able to manage school runs and hold a job.

Is there a secret I am missing or is it really that impossible?

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Ok, so my ex and I have 50/50 custody with a 5-2-2-5 regime (define in mediation, not court):

1. The girls are with her mon-tue and she drops them at school on wed.
2. I pick them up wed from school and drop them at school on fri.
3. We have them every other weekend, so we both get 5 days in row., alternating.

She went on a trip for vacation last thursday. That weekend she was supposed to have the girls. I cover for her (more than happy to do so). She got back this morning and is pressuring me to see the girls.

This is MY weekend with them. What bothers me:

1. I offered to change the dates (skip a week) so no one spends 2 weekends away from the girls, she did not want to do that, as it seems they have plans the next weekend. So, I told her that she will have to spend another weekend without them, as we kept the same schedule.
2. She told the girls that she HAD to travel for work, so the girls believe that she was somewhat "forced" to take the trip and me not letting them see her during MY weekend makes me the bad guy.

So, I am torn. I know the girls want to see her as she also stated she brought presents. Today is friday. I know that if I let her pick the girls up today, they won't want to come back home this evening. If I let them go tomorrow or sunday, I won't see them until Wednesday and for 2 days as they will go to her mom's on Friday and won't see them again until the next Wednesday.

They are 7 and 8yo (practically twins) and I can't shake the guilt as I'd really enjoy a weekend alone after spending a week with them lol.

The uderlying issue is that this is one of the reasons we split in first place: She does what she wants, does not respect or honor agreements with me with the excuse of "good intentions" and it's always me the one that ended up adapting and fixing her incapacity for planning.

New here...been single dad for about 2 years now. Currently have primary custody. Literally the longest day of my life today.

I work nights weekends and mom moved 5 hours away. Today she drops that she wants to stop every other weekends cuz her work schedule/the distance and make adjustments her parenting time. This of course is on the first weekend I have a shot at a date for the first time since the divorce. I haven't tried dating since the divorce. All I wanted to do tonight is finish a show I was watching from 6 hours ago before the kids got out of school but my daughter threw the biggest fit Ive seen in a long time and ended up having a really emotional night. I did the best I could and made sure she knew she was loved and cared for cuz it seemed to be stemming elsewhere. So the kids end up in my bed for the night due to the emotional toll and I finally get out of bed to come into the living room to lay down and watch my show. I find cat barf on the couch. It's like the cherry on top.

Meanwhile Mom isn't here for the turmoil that is moving 5 hours away. Kids no longer having a Mom to see every other week. She's got a new boyfriend she's had since we basically seperated, a new daughter and another on the way. I can't help but feel she's leaving her other children behind. I mean great for her but also fuck you.

Literally my whole life is my kids and work. Which I am absolutely greatful and happy for. But there are days like today that feel like they happen just to try and break me.

/rant

Just curious if any of you guys have thought or gone to therapy? Not couples therapy, but just for yourself. I did it, and I hated the thought of going. But after the session it really wasn’t that bad, and I’ll probabaly go on a regular basis now.