Divorce can easily take its toll on an Illinois family. Parents need to find a way to continue caring for their children despite any emotional fallout that remains after the divorce is final. One way to do that is to make sure to include some preemptive provisions that could help avoid unnecessary conflicts in the future that could jeopardize the co-parenting relationship they are trying to build.
For instance, make an agreement to discuss any extracurricular activities beforehand to make sure they do not interfere with either parent’s schedule. Signing up a child for something without doing so will most likely result in conflict. Another point of contention between many parents is holidays. How they will be handled needs to be outlined as specifically as possible in the parenting plan.
It may not seem like it, but childcare could become a point of contention between co-parents. After all, the two of them negotiated, argued and labored to create a schedule for parenting time. Why would one of the parents use childcare? Instead, the parties could agree to give each other the right of first refusal when it comes to childcare. This way, the parent in need gets someone to watch the children and the other parent gets additional time with the children.
Issues like these could sabotage Illinois parents who are trying hard to build a new relationship as co-parents. Any issue that the parents even remotely believe they could end up arguing about may need addressing in the parenting plan. Since the parties agreed to do things a certain way, they are more apt to adhere to their agreements when the time comes.
