tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506565291181996086.post325507405481391951..comments2023-10-16T07:43:01.668-07:00Comments on Presumption of Equal Parenting Time: CSA 1950's propagandaGeoff Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14338205958185610970noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506565291181996086.post-63727383406748767372007-09-10T03:11:00.000-07:002007-09-10T03:11:00.000-07:00Hi, just a word on shared parenting and how it can...Hi, just a word on shared parenting and how it can work very well without contact being 50/50.<BR/>For 18 years we raised our son, living 100k's apart.Junior is now 20 years old. When father had a free weekend, we met half way and junior spent time with dad, and whenever dad was able to take holidays in school holidays he did so.<BR/>We had no formal arrangements, if I needed a break or had commitments, father would take junior. Junior could phone his dad at any time, and junior also knew that if he played up, I would be straight on the phone to dad to get some support.Dad also paid child support that we arranged between us. If there was a big medical expense, we went halves if possible or dad would pay more as he earns lots more than me. When I met a new partner, I introduced him very early on to father as the 'real deal' for me, so that junior could see that father had no problems with this new fellow. All of us have gone to school meetings, sports events. We talk nicely about each other, and when I remarried, father came to our wedding, and stayed in our house with junior while we went on honeymoon.<BR/>In a nutshell, junior has a better relationship with his dad from us being separated, cos we were not suited as a married couple.<BR/>Time was not only face to face, but also by phone and email and still is.<BR/>Time cant be made to be always 50/50 - just as it like in marriages if a partner is often away for work etc..but people have to really commit to the equal responsibility concept, and stand together on important issues with the kids. That is the true concept of shared parenting and our boy has grown up just fine.It was hard in the early days to 'button the lip' but we did it, because no matter what, junior has two good parents - and the fact that we did not live in the same area and dad did not get to tuck him into bed 7 nights our of 14 did not make the slightest difference at all in the short and the long run. <BR/>Maybe the bloke in the story is more like us, but forget to mention that he has lots of communication with his kids and that is why it is working well even tho face to face is limited.SSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01828767595021419741noreply@blogger.com