When you’re creating your first visitation plan, remember that it’s likely to be changed. What you want and what the other parent wants may not be the same. However, having both of you draw up a plan is a good place to start. You can see where your plans overlap, and then you can discuss the days or times that you don’t agree on.
Each parenting plan is different because there are no two families that are exactly alike. Your parenting plan will likely first reflect the situation that would be best for you and your child, but you will need to be flexible to make sure the final plan works for you, your ex-spouse and your child.
What’s a good tip for working through parenting plan disputes?
One good tip is to put your child first. You and your ex-spouse might not agree on a time or date for your child’s custody, but you need to think about what’s best for your child. If it is easier to keep them at their other parent’s home or you find that they have a preference, then let your child be the one who speaks up (if they are old enough). For decisions regarding holidays or special events, make sure you have a rough outline for what will happen each year until your child is grown.
It might seem like planning that far in advance is a bad idea, but alternating years for custody and adding information on how to resolve disputes about special events could make any future discrepancies easier to deal with.
Every case is different, so talking to your attorney about your options and past plans they’ve seen could help you make good choices for your child’s care.