| It's impossible to draft a parenting plan that covers all | | | | was not notified at the time. In fact, the parent did not |
| the details that arise when raising children. At some | | | | learn of the incident at all until several months later |
| point, you just want to get the major things down, such | | | | when one of the other children mentioned it. This |
| as regular parenting time and holidays, and be done | | | | situation was full of missed opportunities for the child |
| with it. Here are three future details many parenting | | | | and the parents; opportunities for the parent to show |
| plans don't address, but should: | | | | the child how much s/he means to the parent, and |
| Haircuts and Piercings | | | | opportunities for the child to bond with the parent and |
| It might seem a bit mundane to include details in your | | | | experience the parent's genuine love and concern. |
| parenting plan about when, where, and how the | | | | Whether or not your parenting plan provides for |
| children will get their hair cut. But these are details that | | | | shared/joint parenting, the plan should assure that each |
| can cause increased conflict in a family. When the | | | | parent is notified if a child is hospitalized or has a |
| children are very young, haircuts are day-to-day | | | | serious medical issue. |
| decisions that don't really merit much attention in your | | | | Driving |
| parenting plan. And body piercing is not even on the | | | | Hard as it might be to imagine that your young children |
| radar! | | | | will one day be driving, time does march on and the |
| As the children get older and start to express their | | | | children do grow up. Unless your children are already |
| independence, however, hair styles and body piercing | | | | close to driving age when you are preparing your |
| can become major issues between parents, and | | | | parenting plan, you don't need to put all the details |
| between children and parents. Include a general | | | | about driving in the plan. But you should discuss driving |
| statement in your parenting plan that expresses your | | | | when you're preparing your plan and include some |
| shared philosophy regarding the children's | | | | general agreements about the issue. |
| independence in general, and in particular how they | | | | Will you share the cost of driver's education? Will you |
| may express that independence through their hair and | | | | expect the child to contribute toward that cost? Will |
| body. You can include in your parenting plan a general | | | | driving depend on grades or any other criteria? Even if |
| statement that you understand these issues might | | | | you choose not to address these issues in your original |
| arise in the future and how you intend to address | | | | plan, you might include a statement as to your thoughts |
| them when they do. | | | | on driving and how you will address driving-related |
| Emergency Room or Hospitalization | | | | issues in the future. |
| How and when should the other parent be notified | | | | During a divorce or separation, working together on a |
| when a child goes to the emergency room, is | | | | comprehensive parenting plan seems daunting and |
| hospitalized, or has a serious medical issue? This can | | | | uncomfortable. If you take the time in the beginning, |
| especially be an issue when parents don't live near | | | | however, to give some serious thought and discussion |
| each other and/or parenting time with one parent is | | | | to future parenting issues, you and your children will all |
| infrequent. | | | | benefit. |
| I had a case where a child was hospitalized after a | | | | © 2009, Mary Wollard, J.D. |
| serious traffic accident and the out-of-state parent | | | | |