When getting a divorce in Missouri, it doesn’t matter how tumultuous the process is; your children deserve structure and stability. This means creating a parenting plan that works for everyone.
Make a parenting plan right away
Many divorcing couples in Missouri choose to wait until they have hammered out the details of their divorce before they make a parenting plan. This can be a mistake. Your children need stability and routine, especially during such a difficult time. It’s best to sit down with your spouse and develop a parenting plan as soon as possible.
Be willing to compromise
It’s important to remember that you’re not the only one going through this divorce. Your spouse is going through it too, and so are your children. Therefore, you will have to be willing to compromise on some things. For example, if you want joint child custody but your spouse wants sole custody, you may have to meet in the middle and agree to shared custody.
Don’t forget the details
To have a rock-solid parenting plan, you must include all the details regarding your child’s needs. This includes things like what time your children will be picked up and dropped off, where they will spend holidays and weekends, and the amount of child support you will pay or receive.
Consider the best interests of your children
Above all else, when making your parenting plan, you must respect your children’s needs. This means doing what is best for their emotional and physical well-being. For example, if your child has a close relationship with their grandparents, you may want to include them in your parenting plan. Or if they are teenagers, they may want to stay in the same school with friends they’ve already made.
Divorce is already hard enough, don’t make things tougher by not working on a parenting plan that’s best for your children and you as parents. Don’t think of it as winning or losing, but rather as a way of ensuring your children survive and thrive regardless of what’s going on between you two.