Friday, February 4, 2011

Co-Parenting Rule #3 - Compromise



This is such an easy concept, but very hard for some people to accomplish.  Especially someone they have "baggage" with.

Let's look at the situation that brought this post on.

So, about 2 months ago, I mentioned to my ex that I wanted to take the boys camping at the start of our spring break.  Now here is how the custody schedule works out for spring break this year:

         SUN        MON       TUES       WED        THURS       FRI        SAT
         MOM      MOM      MOM        DAD       DAD           MOM     MOM

Typically on spring breaks and the such, we have an agreement to allow the child one more day at the parent's that have only two days of visitation.  So in this case, I would get an extra day.  I wanted to use it on the Sunday (I have them the preceding Friday and Saturday).  This would enable us to go camping Saturday morning and come back Monday afternoon, just in time to go back to Mom's smelling like the great outdoors!!!  She agreed that is sounded fine and to just be careful (just a note, she has sent them back to me injured more times then I have sent them to her injured, kinda funny).

Well, about a week ago, she wanted to know if we could change plans.  At first it kinda pissed me off, I had already planned the trip (hadn't made reservations yet however) and it's kinda become a tradition that we go camping right out of the shoot for spring break.  But, as to not start a fight, I asked her what she had in mind.  She wanted to move my extra day to Friday night, she even offered up them coming to me early on Wednesday.  I was willing to give in then, she gets her dates (based around travel plans) and i get a few extra hours with my boys over the break.  Compromise. 

I am a planner, and I could have dug my heels in.  In the end she could have just said no extra day to you, but instead compromise got me more time!

Have a great day, and if you're in North Texas enjoy the end of the snow!

1 comment:

  1. I have to say, You and your ex have an unusual situation anyways. I can't imagine what "the log book" looks like. Coming from a split family myself, my mom moving everytime my dad found me, Compromise can be a good thing not just for the parents, but the kids as well. Your boys seem to understand and do well with you and your ex's agreements. And yes, you are a planner and knows Excel like a fat kid knows where all the candy stores are in a 12 mile radius. And, as far as the snow... after a week in the house, I hate it!

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