Now you’ve done some preparation and thought how your discussions will work best, you can think about the plans you want to agree on.
Make sure your plans are clear so you're both sure what you are agreeing to. It's important to think about how realistic your plans are too. Your child's other parent may have their own ideas so you might have to make compromises. Think about which of your plans might be easier to agree on and which might be harder.
Working through these questions will help you sort out what you need from the other parent, and the best way of putting your ideas forward.
You might find it useful to print off a list of these questions.
How will you tell the other parent about your ideas?
Will you write your proposals down, or just tell them? Will you give all your ideas at the same time, or individually? Will you give alternatives?
What ideas do you think the other parent will suggest?
They will have views on what kind of arrangement they want. Look at the ideas you have written down. How closely do you think they’ll match the other parent’s plans?
Which ideas do you think will be the hardest to agree on?
Write on your personal record sheet
What will your proposals be?
Looking at your list of the things you want to agree on, what will you suggest for each item? Write down
the words you will use in column five.
That’s it for step 3. What now?
Now you’ve completed the third step you should have a clearer idea of what you’re going to propose and what the other parent might want, and you can move onto the last step.
If you’re not sure about your list, call us on 0800 988 0988 and we can talk you through your options.
