Can I get 50/50 care?
Many parents would like to negotiate towards having their children half of the time each. Often this is in an arrangement where they are with one parent for a week, then the other parent for the next week. This may have implications for how much should be paid between the parents for child support. At Blackboard Mediation, we believe that both parents should have equal shared parental responsibility, but does this mean that they should always spend the same amount of time with the children?
Can 50/50 care be negotiated? The answer is that yes, it is possible. It is understandable how that may seem like the fairest solution. Why would anyone seek any agreement other than where each parent gets half of their children’s time?
The issue may be one of perspective: should the discussion be about what is fair for the parents or should it focus on what is best for the children involved? It is worth asking a few questions:
What is your child’s age?
What is your child ready for developmentally?
What will give your child the most stability, so they can focus on their learning rather than confusion at home?
Are there any barriers that might prevent the children from thriving in both houses? This might include if one parent has shift work or if the distances between houses make childcare or school inconsistent.
At Blackboard Mediation, we acknowledge that you are the experts in your own lives: we will not oblige any parent into an arrangement that won’t work for them. However, we urge each of our clients to take their child’s perspective and make the decisions that will help them thrive.
If you would like any further information on how mediation can work in your own situation, please do not hesitate to contact our office, or call for a free fifteen minute consultation.
