The Power of Temporary Parenting Plans

As a family mediator, I often meet parents who are deeply divided over what time-sharing schedule is best for their children. One parent might be convinced that a week-on/week-off schedule is ideal, while the other insists that shorter, more frequent exchanges are better. These disagreements can get intense—especially when both parents feel strongly that their way is what's best for the kids.

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to figure it all out at once.

In fact, temporary parenting plans can be an incredibly effective tool. They allow you to test different time-sharing arrangements without locking into something permanent. Often, parents are arguing about theoretical outcomes—neither has tried their proposed schedule in real life. So instead of battling over assumptions, I suggest this:

Each parent proposes a time-sharing schedule they believe will work. Then, over the next few months, you try each one out—maybe two to three months for each. After six months, return to mediation and talk about what worked, what didn’t, and where there might be room for compromise.

This approach takes the pressure off and puts real-life experience behind your decisions. Remember, you’re not setting a schedule in stone until your child turns 18. Children grow, needs change, and your parenting plan should be flexible enough to grow with them.

Give yourselves permission to experiment. You may be surprised by what ends up working best for your family.