collaborative child custody mediation
Your Child
Your child is also possibly experiencing stress and anxiety over the changes in his or her life. It is important to remember this. The emphasis should always be on doing what is best to maintain stability in the child's life in face of these changes. If the parents, who presumably know their child better than anyone else, can accomplish a mediated agreed parenting schedule, they can address the specific needs of their child and demonstrate that they put any differences aside to reach an agreement that they feel is best for the child, thereby modeling behaviors that can predict favorable outcomes for the agreement going forward.
Children will frequently blame themselves when their parents relationship ends. It is important for parents to demonstrate that they will both continue to be "there" for the child and that the end of the parents' relationship does not mean the end of the child's relationship with either parent. Parents can demonstrate their willingness to put the child's needs first by discussing what is best for the child and making their own parenting arrangements.
Parenting arrangements can be as flexible or as detailed as your case requires, but you, as the parents, will make the final agreement rather than leaving this important step up to the courts. Of course, once the arrangements have been agreed to, they can always be formalized and submitted to the court to be entered as a court order fully enforceable as if it were decided by a judge in a court.
Why not consider taking the time to sit down with the other parent, with facilitation by the mediator, and attempt to reach an amicable parenting plan?
