ProParentingServices -- Family Mediation, Custody Evaluation and Parenting Solutions

WE AGREE: Creating a Parenting Plan

The We Agree Curriculum is a tool for parents raising children in different households. Jean Hariman provides group classes, individual training and family facilitation for integrating the We Agree Curriculum in parenting solutions.

Some of the basic concepts underlying the We Agree Parenting program are outlined below:

WHAT IS A PARENTING PLAN?
A parenting plan is a written agreement between parents not living together who have a child or children in common.

Parenting Plans consider:

Parenting decisions
How to deal with disagreements
How to make future decisions
Residential arrangements and parenting time

The bottom line: To decide together what is best for your children.

WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE A PARENTING PLAN?

To insure that you consider all the decisions you need to make about the care of your children
A good plan will reduce conflict between parents
Both parents are more likely to follow a plan they make themselves
Less interactions with the courts

You know your children better than the courts do -- shouldn't you be the ones to make decisions related to their well-being?

WHAT SHOULD BE IN A PARENTING PLAN?

Residential arrangements
Parenting time schedule
Medical care
Communication with school(s)
Religion and cultural heritage
Legal custody defined
Vacations
Participation in activities
Plans for ongoing parent-child contact
Child care arrangements
Family connections
How parents will communicate
Transportation
Financial responsibility
How the agreement will be changed

OTHER KEY CONCEPTS OF WE AGREE PARENTING

Parenting needs are different for children of different ages and change as children grow
ALL children need regular contact with both parents, emotional support from both parents, financial support from both parents
and freedom from parental conflict
Parents are people with different parental temperaments,
parenting styles and beliefs -- these differences need to be understood, appreciated and addressed in the creation
of a successful parenting plan.
Successful parenting plans start from points of agreement

Together you can create and revise your parenting plan to continue giving your children the BEST of BOTH of you.

More information about We Agree Parenting (and the option to purchase the 56-page booklet by Rose Allen and Minnell Tralle) can be found at the University of Minnesota's site for Parenting Education Resources - www.parenting.umn.edu.

home | services | contact us | resources | experience