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Notes from the Desk

When Mom & Dad Don't Live Together

Parenting is a challenging endeavor, and even more so when Mom and Dad don’t live together. Maybe Mom and Dad broke up, got divorced, or perhaps they weren’t ever really together. In any case, co-parenting when living apart has it’s own special challenges.

In most cases, a Parenting Plan can help with these challenges. A Parenting Plan serves as a road map or a blue print. It includes provisions about child support, custody, medical care, holidays, summer vacation, grandparent visits, and more. In the best case scenario, the co-parents work together to craft a plan that makes sense for them. Alternatively, parents who cannot or will not work together may end up in court with a judge making decisions for them. Or worse, they have no plan and fight their way through every decision.

Numerous studies suggest that ongoing conflict between parents is much more harmful to the mental and emotional health of children than the structure itself of the family. Therefore, parents who are no longer together due to divorce or a breakup should take great care to resolve past conflict, to avoid future conflict, and to keep the children out of any ongoing conflict. A strong Parenting Plan can help with these goals.

The best way for Co-Parents to create a Parenting Plan is through mediation. Your mediator is trained to facilitate discussion and to help you create your own, unique plan while not leaving out any important elements. If you would like to discuss creating a Parenting Plan or need help modifying one that no longer works, please call Barahona Consulting & Mediation at 832-439-3581 or email kbarahona@bcmediation.net .

Kimberly Barahona