Ideally, you and your child’s other parent will work together to create a parenting plan that meets your children’s needs. Working in good faith with your former spouse allows you to have more say in how the plan is structured. Here are a few guidelines that Maryland parents may want to follow when creating the roadmap for raising children in a joint custody situation.
It’s not about winning or losing
It may be tempting to think that you are the only one making sacrifices in an effort to do what is best for your children. However, your former partner will also have to do things that he or she isn’t happy about in an effort to put your child’s needs first. If you have any concerns about a proposed plan or the state of negotiations in general, it is important that you address them with your child’s other parent.
Your former partner should be allowed to grow as a parent
You may currently be the parent who makes sure that homework assignments are complete or that your child adheres to a regular sleep schedule. However, there is a good chance that the child’s other parent can learn how to enforce rules and boundaries if given an opportunity to do so.
Don’t try to predict the future
The parenting plan may call for you or your former spouse to move closer to where the child currently lives. However, whether or not that actually happens depends on a variety of factors such as selling a home or finding an affordable apartment in town. Ideally, you will avoid including conditions in a parenting plan that must be met at a later date. Otherwise, you may find yourself frustrated or upset about something that you have limited control over.
Generally, parenting plans are only acceptable if they meet the best interest of the child standard. A family law professional may be able to answer any questions that you may have about creating a parenting plan or how to address any concerns that you have about a proposed plan.