A parenting plan is one of the more important documents and agreements that a divorcing couple must make together. Children and divorce are always complicated, but it is incredibly important to protect children at every stage of the divorce and beyond when you are finally separated from your spouse.

Avoiding certain common mistakes that are made when creating parenting plans can protect your finances, your sanity, but most importantly the health and well-being of your children. With the help of experienced Missouri divorce attorney Joshua Wilson, you can create your parenting plan with confidence and finalize your divorce to the benefit of you and your children.

What is a Parenting Plan?

In short, a parenting plan is an arrangement which sets forth the parents' schedule with the children and their obligations.

In a previous blog, I went into detail about creating and enforcing a parenting plan.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few mistakes to avoid could save you from a world of headaches later on in the divorce process.

"Equalizing" Summer Vacation

A great many couples use the summer vacation to "equalize" any time that was not equal from the rest of the year. This includes special schedules for family vacations, weekends missed, extended visitations, and longer time and contact with extended family.

However, if a child must attend summer school, this can throw a wrench in the agreement. This often unexpected requirement can mess with planned vacations or time with the other parent, especially if one parent lives in the school district and the other does not.

Planning Holidays For What the Parents Want, Rather Than What the Kids Want

Understandably, both parents want to spend time with their kids on major holidays. As a result, some parents arrange for holiday exchanges at times that greatly interfere with the kids' expectations about what the holiday should be like.

For example, kids prefer hunting Easter Eggs on Easter morning, not packing up in the car halfway through to head to the next parent's house. The same may be true on the evening of the 4th of July, Christmas morning, or any other religious holiday. Consider what impact a mid-day transfer may have on your children when making your parenting plan for holidays.

Forgetting Your Children's "Friends" Time

As children age, they want to spend less time with their parents and more time with their friends. This hard truth is one that every parent eventually learns but is often forgotten when it comes time to create a parenting plan.

Parents are understandably feeling the loss of time with their kids now that they must split that time with the other parent. If you fail to consider the time needed for your children's social life with friends, not only will you upset your children, but it will likely create conflicts with your ex-spouse over the parenting plan arrangements as well.

Consult a Missouri Divorce Attorney

Creating a parenting plan which works for everyone involved and takes care of your children is incredibly important. With the help of experienced Cass County attorney Joshua Wilson, you will go into the divorce process with power, knowledge, and confidence.

Contact the Joshua Wilson Law Firm today at (816) 331-9968 for a consultation.