The world has changed a great deal in the last few decades. Divorced parents have myriad new social and practical issues to address. When you’re creating or updating a parenting plan, consider these hot button subjects. Coming to an agreement now will ensure that if any issues do arise, you’ll know how to handle it.
- Pandemics and health emergencies:The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that major health emergencies can wreak havoc on parenting plans, visitation and custody agreements. Try to reach an agreement on issues like vaccines, wearing masks, homeschooling, who makes medical decisions and potential precautionary measures at each household.
- Gender and sexuality issues:Sometimes children find their gender assigned at birth or presumed sexuality no longer fits. Whether you suspect your child will need to reckon with these issues, it’s important to come to a consensus on how you’ll handle the issue. Talk to your child’s other parent about pronouns, delaying hormonal puberty, transitioning and related issues. Even if the other parent doesn’t agree, you can take steps to make sure your kids have at least one non-judgmental, welcoming home.
- Bird’s nest custody:Some parents are choosing “bird’s nest custody,” where the children stay in one home while the parents alternate moving in and out. This can be a complex (and expensive) proposition, so it requires considerable discussion and planning.
- Cannabis use:Minnesota now permits cannabis use for people 21 and over. However, not every parent agrees on whether to expose their child to this activity. Parents should consider whether they’ll talk about cannabis with their kids, what kind of words they’ll use to describe it and how to store any cannabis the parents use. Remember to revisit these plans as your children get older, since they will inevitably be exposed to cannabis discussion and use later in life.
For assistance with your custody issues, contact the trusted child custody lawyers at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. in St. Paul, MN.