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I guess I should have mentioned that I live in Canada, where the parents can come up with a parenting plan and have it approved by a family lawyer without ever getting into the legal system, or to a mediator.

If the plan is acceptable to parents, legal, and enforceable, it is then approved by family services and written in stone. I guess things work quite differently where you live.

In addition, there are no "educational districts" per se here. All education comes under the provincial body responsible for education, and it is consistent from school to school, classroom to classroom. This ensures standardized education, and we have had no issues transferring kids between schools here in Alberta before, having done it twice now.

Never assume anything... aye, good words of advice. I don't assume that this will be an easy task, but will always do what's best for my kids.

Thanks for your comments, I'll take them under consideration.

Mike

Thanks for the replies.

In my situation, this will not go even to the mediator stage, let alone a judge.

My wife and I have agreed that:

1) Shared custody is the best solution for the kids,
2) They would benefit best by as close to a 50/50 time split as possible, and
3) Regardless of the distance, as long as the kids are happy and their needs are put first, this solution is worth pursuing.

In addition, where I live the educational system is standardized and movement between schools is seamless. My daughter is a gifted child, and is on an Individual Learning Plan, which would follow her regardless of where she lives.

We have (all of us, kids included) discussed all (big assumption there) of the advantages/disadvantages of this solution , and find it worth pursuing.

In the end, it may be unworkable (and I am preparing for any other solution that works), but I'm definitely curious to see if anyone on this board has heard of any situation where this is working or not working.

Cheers,

Mike

Hello, new to the boards, have a question for anyone in a similar situation.

I'm splitting from my wife, and we're discussing shared parenting. I've always been a major factor in my children's lives (currently 6 and 8 years old) and desire nothing less than 50% responsibility down the line.

As a member of the military, I'm up for posting soon, and it will be away from the city my wife lives in. This is unavoidable, although I should be able to be reasonably close (within 5 hours drive).

I'd really like to hear if anyone has had success with a shared parenting scenario that divides the kids between parents that live far apart. Splitting time so that kids spend most of the summer and the "fall semester" with one parent, and switching at Xmas time seems a reasonable solution, to me anyways.

Anyone with any experiences/suggestions to share?

Thanks,

Mike