I anticipate that during mediation, my ex may not agree to any proposals. Therefore, I believe it's best to just go big in mediation since the case will be going to court.

I feel like proposing the following custody arrangement:

School Year (Second Sunday in August - Last Saturday in May):

  • The children will be with me from Sunday night through Wednesday night.

  • Exchanges will occur at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday nights.

  • I will have one full weekend (Friday to Sunday) every three months.

  • I will have the full weekend before the children's birthdays.

Summer Schedule (Sunday after the last Saturday in May - Second Saturday in August):

  • We will implement a 2-5-2-5 schedule.

  • Each parent will have two vacation weeks during the summer period.

Holiday Schedule:

  • Holidays will be divided into Group A and Group B. In even years, my ex will have the A holidays and I will have the B holidays. In odd years, we will switch. Each parent will have six holidays per year.

    • Thanksgiving: The parent who has Thanksgiving will have the children from Wednesday. The parent who has the children the Friday after Thanksgiving will also have them that Saturday and Sunday following that Friday.
    • Christmas: The parent with Christmas Eve will have the children the day before. If that day is a Sunday, they will also have them on the Saturday before. The parent with Christmas Day will also have them the day after. If Christmas Day falls on a Friday or Saturday, that parent will have the children until Sunday night.
    • Extended Holidays: If a holiday falls on a Friday, that parent will also have the following Saturday and Sunday. If it falls on a Monday, they will have the weekend before.

School Breaks:

  • I will have spring break in odd years and fall break in even years.

Future Transition:

  • Starting in the summer of 2029, the summer before my youngest begins preschool, we will transition to a week-on, week-off schedule. At that point, the oldest child will have the autonomy to decide where they want to stay and feel like as well.

Additionally, I propose including a Right of Refusal in the custody agreement, where they want to stay.

Thoughts?