The absolute best thing you can do for your children is make an early plan of how you would like to parent as a team after separation. Pro-active parenting plans can head off problems before they start.

For one small example, if you have discussed what will happen with planning and celebrating a child’s birthdays well ahead of time, arguments about parties, presents and time spent with the child are more likely to be avoided. This protects the child from potential emotional harm as well as the parents. You can talk pro-actively about introducing new partners, time with extended family, what schools children attend – almost anything that might come up as a matter of contention in the future.

As a highly experienced parenting mediator, I can help guide you both in a neutral and professional way to an agreed parenting plan that you might never achieve on your own. Call me to talk about parenting mediation or to book an individual pre-mediation session in my Manuka office.

If you and your ex are experiencing conflict about shared parenting, you may be required to attend mediation (called Family Dispute Resolution) before you are allowed to go to Court over parenting disputes. As an accredited FDR Practitioner with the Australian Attorney-General’s Department, I can help you to meet the Court’s requirements through mediation.

Read more about this on my Family Law and FDR Page or my Mediation FAQs page.

- Janine’s tip sheet on how to prepare for parenting mediation lists everything you might like to think about including in a parenting plan.

- Relationships Australia’s excellent parenting plan booklet is a comprehensive guide the coming up with a plan.

http://www.relationships.org.au/relationship-advice/publications/pdfs/share-the-care-parenting-plan