Joint Custody

[everydayson]

BM has agreed to joint custody with equal time between us.  She has also agreed to make me primary residential parent.  She wants me to agree to no child support in TN.  BM has been very tricky in the past.  I have been primary caretaker with her mom for the last year.  

Son is 18 months old.  Should we address school issues now. I am convinced that she thinks that she will take him when he gets school age and she is done drinking and drugging.  I just don"t want to make a mistake that I will regret in a few year.  She wants two days for me and two days for her every week and every other weekend for both.  She wants daycare so that her mom can take care of him at night.  BM works nights.  My mom and I currently take care of him during the day.  I work nights.  She wants me to pay half daycare, however, I do not need daycare.  What should I agree to?  Thanks

[ocean]

That is great! Get it all in writing IN COURT. You can have it drawn up and just file it but make sure it gets in front of a judge with a signature. Many times if you agree, you do not have to be there.
Daycare-She wants to pay her mother??? Nope, usually it has to be a license daycare. You could do one week on and one week off and then each of you are responsible for your own week. You could counter this, with you have costs on your week and since there is no child support, each is responsible. IF she gives you a real hard time, I would consider paying half of daycare TO the provider (no child support) and then it will stop at school-age.
School-I would try every way possible to see if she will agree NOW to let your area be the home school district if you live close enough. She could pick child up from school on a certain day and then keep child for a week, then you switch.
Good luck!

[janM]

18 months may be a bit young to do the every other week thing. I think the every 2 or 3 days, if they live close, is better. Once he is older and starts school, then they could go that way.

I agree that if there is no support, each is responsible for costs on their time.