Calendar & Scheduling

The CommonGround calendar is a single, shared view that both parents see. There is no discrepancy between what one parent sees and what the other sees. This eliminates the back-and-forth about whose weekend it is or when an event was scheduled.

Custody time is color-coded by parent. Your time appears in one color and your co-parent's time appears in another, making it easy to see the custody split at a glance. Events like appointments, school activities, and extracurriculars are displayed alongside custody blocks.

You can switch between month, week, and day views depending on how much detail you need. The calendar syncs in real time, so any changes either parent makes appear instantly for both.

Adding an event to the shared calendar is straightforward. Tap any day to open the event creation form. Fill in the details like title, time, location, and which children are involved. Both parents are automatically notified when a new event is added.

1. 1Navigate to the Calendar tab and tap the day you want to add an event to.
2. 2Choose the event type: custody time, appointment, school event, or custom.
3. 3Add the event details including title, start and end time, and location.
4. 4Save the event. Your co-parent receives a notification immediately.

Most custody arrangements follow a regular pattern, such as alternating weeks, a 2-2-3 schedule, or every other weekend. On the Plus plan, you can define these recurring patterns once and the calendar auto-populates months into the future.

Go to Calendar Settings and select Recurring Schedule. Choose from common custody templates or create a custom pattern. Set the start date, and CommonGround fills in the calendar automatically. You can always override individual days when exceptions come up.

Holidays are often the most contentious part of a custody schedule. CommonGround simplifies this with built-in holiday rotation management. You define which holidays matter to your family, and the system alternates them year by year automatically.

For example, if Parent A has Thanksgiving in even years, Parent B automatically gets it in odd years. The same rotation applies to any holiday you configure, including winter break, spring break, birthdays, and cultural or religious observances.

Holiday assignments override the regular recurring schedule for the designated dates. Both parents can see the full holiday calendar projected years into the future, so there are no surprises.

CommonGround sends automatic reminders for important schedule events so nothing falls through the cracks. You receive notifications for:

• Upcoming exchanges: A reminder the day before and the morning of each custody exchange.
• Schedule changes: Instant notification when your co-parent proposes or modifies an event.
• Upcoming events: Reminders for appointments, school events, and activities you have added.
• Holiday transitions: Advance notice when the regular schedule shifts for a holiday period.

Reminders are sent via push notification and email. You can customize which reminders you receive and how far in advance in your notification settings.

Life happens, and schedules need to change. Quick Accords are CommonGround's way of handling schedule modifications with a clear approval trail. Instead of a text message that might be forgotten or disputed later, you propose a change through the calendar and the other parent approves or declines.

1. 1Tap the day you want to modify and select Propose Change.
2. 2Describe the change, such as swapping a weekend or moving a pickup time.
3. 3Your co-parent receives a notification and can approve or decline.
4. 4Once approved, the calendar updates and the agreement is documented with timestamps.

Tips for using the calendar effectively

• Make it the single source of truth: Both parents should agree that the CommonGround calendar is the definitive schedule. If it is not on the calendar, it is not confirmed.
• Add events as soon as you know about them: School conferences, doctor appointments, and activities should go on the calendar the moment they are scheduled so your co-parent is always informed.
• Include details in event notes: Add the address, time, and any special instructions so both parents have all the information they need.
• Use Quick Accords for changes: Even if your co-parent agrees verbally, document the change through a Quick Accord so there is a written record.
• Review the upcoming week together: Make it a habit to glance at the next seven days each Sunday evening to catch any scheduling overlaps early.