Time with your child
Most parents normally want to spend as much time as possible with their child, and you and the other parent
probably feel like this too. Your child also has a right to spend time with both parents, where it is safe to do so.
When parents have disagreements they sometimes try to use time as a bargaining tool, threatening to withdraw it
if their demands are not met. This is emotionally harmful to the child. Your child has a right to spend time with
both parents, where it is safe to do so. You must resolve your differences before making the flexible arrangements
that put your child first.
Money and child maintenance
This can be another cause for disagreement between separated parents. As parents, you must financially support
your child’s everyday living costs, but it can be difficult to agree on child maintenance arrangements if you are
in conflict about something else. You will need to make arrangements for child maintenance; both the amount and when
it is paid.
Child maintenance must be separated from any emotional issues you and the other parent may have. If other
disagreements are stopping you making good child maintenance arrangements, it’s important to acknowledge this and
then deal with these issues separately.
Parenting styles and decision-making
One parent’s ideas about what is appropriate and important for their child may be very different from the
other parent’s, and this can lead to conflict.
Unless you have serious concerns about how your child is being brought up, try to avoid conflict by agreeing
some minimum standards and discussing things that concern you with the other parent.
