Mediation Allows Parents to Stay Flexible as Children Grow
August 5, 2016 by West Coast ADR
When parents in British Columbia go through a divorce, it may be difficult to keep the best interests of the children in the forefront. Divorce may involve a tangle of emotions, and many decisions made at the time are often intended to last for decades after the papers are signed. However, when it comes to child custody arrangements, parents may need to allow a great deal of flexibility as children change and grow. Mediation allows parents to arrive at a more fluid schedule that can change over time.
An infant boy who is still nursing needs more time with his mother. However, when he is a teenager, he may benefit from spending more time with his father. Parents who have created a plan that can adapt through those changes are more able to make parenting decisions as a team instead of having their lives ruled by a court document.
Even day to day alterations to schedules can be made if the parents remain open and cooperative. If a child has a school project or homework, he or she may prefer to stay at one parent’s house rather than going to the other. Likewise, if one parent wants to take the children on vacation, a flexible schedule can allow for that change in plans.
During mediation, parents can leave a parenting plan vague enough to adapt for natural changes that occur as life progresses and children grow. Parents in British Columbia who are facing divorce may wish to speak to an attorney about mediation. An experienced lawyer can answer their questions and guide them through the options for making this emotional time less stressful.
Source: thestar.com, “Parenting after divorce easier with flexible scheduling“, Brandie Weikle, July 28, 2016
When parents in British Columbia go through a divorce, it may be difficult to keep the best interests of the children in the forefront. Divorce may involve a tangle of emotions, and many decisions made at the time are often intended to last for decades after the papers are signed. However, when it comes to child custody arrangements, parents may need to allow a great deal of flexibility as children change and grow. Mediation allows parents to arrive at a more fluid schedule that can change over time.
An infant boy who is still nursing needs more time with his mother. However, when he is a teenager, he may benefit from spending more time with his father. Parents who have created a plan that can adapt through those changes are more able to make parenting decisions as a team instead of having their lives ruled by a court document.
Even day to day alterations to schedules can be made if the parents remain open and cooperative. If a child has a school project or homework, he or she may prefer to stay at one parent’s house rather than going to the other. Likewise, if one parent wants to take the children on vacation, a flexible schedule can allow for that change in plans.
During mediation, parents can leave a parenting plan vague enough to adapt for natural changes that occur as life progresses and children grow. Parents in British Columbia who are facing divorce may wish to speak to an attorney about mediation. An experienced lawyer can answer their questions and guide them through the options for making this emotional time less stressful.
Source: thestar.com, “Parenting after divorce easier with flexible scheduling“, Brandie Weikle, July 28, 2016