Three Considerations When Creating a Parenting Plan for Your Teenagers

 Posted on August 18, 2020 in Child Custody

For many divorcing couples, children are a part of the picture and must be properly handled before the divorce can be finalized. Getting a divorce when you have any children at all increases the complexity and difficulty of the legal process, but doing so when your children are in their teenage years can provide for rather unique and interesting issues. If your children are still minors, you and your spouse must have a parenting plan approved and in place before you can have a judge finalize your divorce agreement. Creating a parenting plan can be straightforward in some situations, but when you are creating a parenting plan for teenagers, there are some things you should keep in mind.

Flexibility is Important

When you have a child who is a teenager, they are just beginning to blossom into young adults. Their lives are no longer revolving around you and the family. They have other things going on in their lives, such as school, friends, extracurricular activities, sports, jobs and significant others. A strict parenting plan will only cause stress for everyone and can put a strain on the relationship between you and your teen. Having a flexible parenting plan is important for successfully co-parenting a teenager.

Be Prepared For Them to Spend a Lot of Time With Friends

As your child grows, they will naturally want to spend more time with their friends and will gravitate away from the family setting. This is normal and actually helps prepare them for a few years down the line when they will be surrounded by peers and no longer living with parents. You should try not to place too much pressure on your teen for wanting to spend time with his or her friends in the midst of your divorce.

Plan Specific Times For Family

Even though your teen will want to spend more time with his or her friends, they still need the love and support of their family. Everyone’s lives can get hectic and crazy, but planning out specific ways to spend time together is a good way to ensure you are maintaining a relationship with your child. 

Contact a Wheaton, IL Parenting Plan Attorney Today

Creating a parenting plan is an important step in the divorce process because it will serve as the blueprint for co-parenting your child until they reach the age of 18. If you are getting divorced and your children are teenagers, you should speak with a knowledgeable DuPage County parenting plan lawyer. At the Goostree Law Group, our team can help you formulate a parenting plan that works for the whole family, including your children. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 630-364-4046.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+VI&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8350000&SeqEnd=10200000

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/co-parenting-a-teenager/

https://apfmnet.org/co-parenting-well-through-teen-years/