Dividing Some Very Important Time
Parenting time is one of the most difficult issues for parents to agree upon. Whether you have sole or shared custody, scheduling parenting time can be a major headache. Everyone, including your child, has his or her own schedule, and those schedules need to work together. Whenever in doubt, you should schedule your parenting time to meet your child’s needs because children do best when both parents accommodate his or her needs in a low-conflict way.
Scheduling Parenting Time Tips
Parenting time is a very important part of your child’s life. Make sure your parenting time schedule accommodates your child’s school and activity calendars and won’t interfere with their school day or after school life. This can be difficult to do. The best way you can ensure your parenting time schedule is appropriate for your child is communicate frequently with the other parent. Your and your spouse know and understand your child’s needs. Don’t feel pressured by lawyers or anyone else to adopt a cookie-cutter parenting time schedule. This usually involves the child living with the mom during the week and staying with the dad every other weekend. This works great for some families, but not others. Speak with the other parent and discuss your and your child’s needs. Bear in mind, your child’s needs may not be apparent. While your child shouldn’t dictate what goes into the parenting plan, make sure you know what your child needs to be happy. These needs will vary as your child ages and matures. Younger children may crave routine while older children may want more freedom away from their parents. Identifying these needs first is the key to scheduling parenting time effectively.
Consider divorce mediation if you want to make sure your parenting time schedule meets your child’s needs. Mediation allows you and your spouse to creatively schedule parenting time in a way that works for you and your child. Eschewing the standard cookie-cutter parenting time schedule will require you to make some important decisions, but an experienced Massachusetts divorce mediator can help you and your spouse do so.
Are you worried about parenting time? If so, Mediation Advantage Services can help you. Experienced in divorce mediation, Law Office of Polly Tatum can provide you with the information and guidance needed to make good decisions about your child. Based in historic Worcester with a satellite office in Northboro, MA, our firm serves all cities and towns throughout Massachusetts and Worcester County including, Auburn, Paxton, Leicester, Sutton, Grafton, Shrewsbury, Westboro, Northboro, Southboro, Holden, Sterling, Princeton, Worcester, Charlton, Millbury, Dudley, Spencer, Brookfield, Sudbury, Natick, Framingham, Hopkinton, Milford, Blackstone, Leominster, Fitchburg, Acton, Jefferson, Barre, Oakham, Cambridge, Newton, Marlboro, Lancaster, Bolton, and Hudson. Call our office at (508) 466-4734, fill out our online form, or email us at info@mediationadvantage.com today to schedule your Complimentary Mediation Success Planning Session. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter or download our free e-book for more information regarding divorce in Massachusetts.