Dear Parents

When families change through separation, divorce, remarriage, or a paternity action, a whole new set of challenges arises for the parents and the children. You will be faced with decisions about parenting time, education, activities, setting rules, and expectations. This booklet is designed to help you create a parenting plan that works so you can successfully parent apart.

Your challenge is to find solutions that are in the best interest of your children. This process may be far from smooth; emotions between parents are often strong. Where the children will live, how much time the children will spend with each parent, and the level of child support are a few of the "contests" many parents feel they must "win" from the other parent. If you have these feelings, you are not alone.

But there can be positive sides to family change as well. You will have opportunities to parent in ways you haven't before. You will also have the chance to create a new relationship with the other parent, one that is not focused on your conflicts with each other, but on supporting, nurturing, and protecting your children.

Each of you has losses to grieve, yet you can't work these feelings out with the other parent. Each of you must find your own support, whether through friends, counseling, groups, books, or other resources.

We hope the ideas and suggestions in this booklet will help you create a plan that meets both the challenges of your changing family and the needs of your children.