Parents who share custody in Tennessee may find themselves disagreeing over many matters. From the way that they divide their time with their shared children to choices that may influence their lives for years to come, there are many issues that can become sources of conflict between divorced parents.
It is common for parents in Tennessee to share both parenting time or physical custody and decision-making authority or legal custody. Shared legal custody usually means that parents must work cooperatively to make important decisions for their children.
Matters related to a child’s education, for example, could have a profound impact on their future. Parents may find themselves arguing with one another about the best options for their child’s education in a shared custody scenario. If parents discuss these matters early on, they may minimize future conflicts.
What school the children should attend
There are many different options for educating children. Public schools are the simplest solution in many communities, but they are far from the only option. There are private and charter schools that children can attend. There are also digital schools that offer remote learning and homeschooling programs. Parents may disagree about the right approach to their children’s education. Beyond that, even the district where the children attend school can be a source of conflict, as where the children spend more of their time can influence the school district where they can enroll.
Rules for extracurricular activities
Maybe one parent feels strongly about it prioritizing extracurricular activities with an academic focus, like robotics clubs, rather than team sports. Perhaps one parent wants the children to maintain certain grades or comply with household rules regularly before they can participate in extracurricular activities. Parents may find themselves disagreeing about what activities their children enjoy and how to adjust schedules and budgets to accommodate the activities.
Academic expectations
Many households may limit children’s privileges based on how well or how poorly they do at school. Parents may have different ideas about what types of grades their children should maintain and what consequences they may need to enforce if their children don’t reach those standards.
Given that parents generally need to agree on major decisions for their children, it may be necessary to establish certain ground rules when negotiating a parenting plan as part of a shared custody arrangement. Parents who take the time to talk about potential sources of conflict ahead of time can set themselves up for an effective co-parenting relationship.