This is great guys and greatly appreciated so thanks for that. So the reason for mediation is too put together a "Master Parenting Plan".
So essentially nearly everything that goes into a parenting plan is an agenda topic.
I really want to nail down 90% of the plan, with the last 10% for the Judge to decide on the 27th Feb. I'm fully aware that the Ex won't budge on allowing me visitations for a few hours on "daycare days" and won't budge on "her alternate weekend visits" which she only changed to a month ago, as previously I was allowed weekly Saturday lunch-afternoons, so I'll be happy to put my case forward to the Judge, and let her decide "whats in the best interest" of my 10 mth old daughter.
After reading many of the court cases that Sammy01 has put up here, I found a Judge who thought outside the box and said that, alternate weekends were too far apart for very young children (there was also a midweek visit in the case), so put forward the option of 3 out of 4 weekends (3/4) for the Father. I will be asking for the same thing but say 11/12 weeks or 7/8 weeks.
AllForHer, yes full parenting plan. Great idea on the "come up with a few proposals for each item on the agenda as a starting point for negotiation"
Stevie_Beavie, thanks for the heads up, so good idea to get the 90% we do agree on put into consent orders as quickly as possible.
Sammy01, great opinion as usual "here is one that you want - even though it is hard to enforce...That in the event that mum is busy and needs someone else to look after kids, she should give dad first option..."
I really like it, but considering the Ex lives with her Mother, and her own sister lives 1km away, I doubt that I'd ever be called upon as "first option" and secondly, I'd never be likely to find out this is taking place. I'm only 30km away (rural). But in the last 10 months I've never been called on to look after my daughter outside of Saturday visitations. But I will definitely be putting it in.
Cheers
