Parents have most frequently practiced the method of divorce mediation to assist them in settling their separations and diminish the scars of the fight. In the process of child custody meditation, parents go together to acquire a plan for parenting their children after divorce with the assistance of a neutral third body.
While mediation can be arranged personally, the practice of court-connected mediation has promptly grown over the last several years. The uses of such mediation are compulsory before parents can litigate custody matters in many states.
The mediation process is one in which parents work together to devise a parenting plan that is mutually acceptable to both parents. This parenting plan may be quite structured, specifying the day-to-day timeshare of the children, as well as plans for vacations, holidays, and special matters of the family.
By striving collectively in mediation to build your parenting plan, you can bypass the fights that are very damaging in an adversarial manner, and you can add your kids to the decision-making in a way that enables them in a safe and healthy way.
At the time of mediation and when you produce a parenting plan by yourself, your children will be strong enough to withdraw loyalty disputes and are less likely to consider the pressure of conflicting parents.
If children are involved in the decision-making process, they can reveal their emotions and know that you are admitting them. Mediation provides children with a greater sense that they have a say in their lives and the liberty to engage in the judgments that influence their lives.
Mediation vs Litigation
Courts that give mediation assistance provide parents with a significant service. A lot of research has depicted that mediation can decrease litigation over custody. When parents engage in mediation, it is possible to come out with a settlement as high as 70%. Obviously, parents feel more satisfaction with mediation than litigation. Most remarkably, however, upon selecting mediation, you would have authority over the parenting plan, whereas, in litigation, the court determines how a parent will spend their time with their children.
With enhanced satisfaction, improved collective decision-making, and reduced hostility, mediation is surely a better alternative than litigation. For those parents who reside in an area where court-connected mediation is unavailable, commonly private mediation services are accessible and are typically well worth the investment, compared to the alternative of litigation.
Keep in mind that you will most probably save money and have more control over the consequences if you accept mediation.
Steps To Follow As Mediation Approaches
Firstly, address your mediation matter with consciousness, and show your willingness to listen. Parents who listen to the mediator and their ex-spouse are the ones who are capable of approaching a settlement and building a jointly adequate parenting plan. Those who think that there is only one solution to visitation and custody issues are generally stubborn and refuse to settle. If you come with an open mind, you can brainstorm different options until you uncover a solution that is suitable for everyone, primarily your children.
Secondly, comes equipped with various options. Be prepared and do some homework before mediation. Examine and draft your proposals so that you can relate to them in the mediation session. You won’t want to skip or consider something that is vital to you in the mediation. Make sure you believe your child’s requirements and stay focused on your children and their needs. Be aware of the consequences of conflict on your children.
Thirdly, the point of meditation is not to concentrate on the other parent. Mediation usually breaks down when parents discuss the different matters between them. This is not a spot to re-hash your marital problems but a spot to resolve parenting queries after your divorce.
Talk about your child and your perception of their requirements. If you have concerns about the other parent’s anger or frustration, make sure you make it clear to the other parent, that you are both there for the child. If you have concerns that the other parent lets your daughter stay up too late, communicate about her need for structure and routine. Openly discuss your child’s benefits. However, whatever you do, try to avoid anger, name-calling, or anything of the sort to make matters worse.
Finally, in the end, bring a sense of humor and balance. Things usually get tense at times during mediation. Make sure both sides understand. Make sure you have your other half (even though no longer together) balance your wishes, the other parent’s wishes, and your child’s necessities. While this is your ultimate goal, it may not be as simple as it sounds.
If you feel anxious, keep in mind that you’re struggling for your children, not for yourself. And also remember that you don’t have to like your ex-spouse to make an agreement on your children’s behalf. Simply you just need to love them more than you dislike your ex-spouse. Take a short break from the mediation session if needed. You may require many mediation sessions to get a satisfying settlement result.
Consider the mediator’s advice and accept it. He’ll have the best interests in mind regarding your children, even if you and your ex-spouse can’t agree on what that is. Realize that your mediator’s task is to try and maintain your child’s necessities and each of your requirements. He will do this while urging you to find a solution to parenting.
If nothing else works, often a humorous comment can break this stress, and support everyone getting back to work. You will be required to hold strictly to your values and beliefs, remember that there will be several ways to satisfy these values and beliefs. Talk about different ideas, keep struggling to accomplish your goals, and be willing to negotiate to reach a peaceful solution on your children’s behalf.
Vital Rules For Mediation
- Always concentrate on your child’s best interests.
- Avoid following your own desires.
- Take custody as a separate matter linking only to what is better for your children.
- Avid discussion of property or child support when seeking to fix your parenting plan.
- Acknowledge your child’s special needs according to his/her age, growth, and temperament.
- Don’t assume that there is a standard policy that suits the necessities of all children.
- Also, admit the other parent’s powers and bring up only legitimate concerns about the other parent’s capacity to consider your child.
- Never bad-mouth the other parent.
- Accept that your child requires time with both of you, in a secure atmosphere, acquired by a parenting plan.
Approach mediation with:
- A proposal for time-sharing and a child custody plan
- A calendar which classifies children’s school holidays, schedule of your work, your children’s activities
- A business-like and flexible attitude
