Parents and children have certain fundamental, unalienable rights to live their lives in a certain fashion. Mediator Dick Eberle (http://www.divorcesource.com/WA/DS/eberle.html) described these rights, as follows:
Child’s Rights
- A child has the right to love each parent without being subjected to the other parent’s hurt or anger.
- A child has the right to develop an independent and meaningful relationship with each parent and to enjoy the uniqueness of each parent and each home.
- A child has the right to be free from involvement in parents’ personal battles or being used as a spy, messenger or bargaining chip.
- A child has the right to extended family relationships, which include grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and others, and to appreciate the unique differences of each side of his or her family and not have these differences referred to as “better” or “worse.”
- A child has the right to be free from questions about the other parent’s private life.
- A child has the right to see his or her parents treat each other in a courteous and respectful manner.
- A child has the right to develop and maintain activities and friends without fear of losing time with a parent.
- A child has the right to be a CHILD without having to assume adult and/or parental roles or duties.
Parents’ Rights
- A parent has the right to love and nurture one’s child without harassment from the other parent.
- A parent has the right to receive respect and courtesy and the obligation to show respect and courtesy.
- A parent has the right to attend and participate in a child’s special activities.
- A parent has the right to information regarding a child’s physical, mental and emotional health.
- A parent has the right during parenting time to follow one’s own standards, beliefs and style of child-rearing without interference from the other parent.
- A parent has the right to a separate and private life.
Benefits of Parenting Coordination
- Improves communication skills with your former spouse to enable better co-parenting
- Establishes boundaries and set forth your expectations
- Addresses co-parenting issues in a non-adversarial setting
- Improves relationships between family members
- Reduces conflict between the parents
- Creates environment for co-parenting in the best interests of the children
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