When a child decides that they want to live with the other parent to the one they already live with, holidays can present difficulties. In a case where the child, aged 14, had fallen out with her mother following an argument, Family Matters was able to help a separated couple, Fran and Marcus, to make arrangements following the argument. The child had previously lived with her mother, Fran, but now lives with her father, Marcus, following the disagreement with her mother. Before the argument, Marcus had booked a holiday in Lanzarote, but Fran said that she didn’t want the child to be rewarded by the holiday as the child had pushed boundaries. Whilst Marcus agreed with the mother’s sentiments, he had already booked and paid for the holiday, so they agreed that the child should go on the holiday. Marcus and Fran also agreed on sanctions relating to the unacceptable behaviour and that they should be implemented before the holiday. The child was not spending any time with Fran, and Family Matters helped the parents come to an arrangement using mediation for the child to stay with Marcus, but also to agree a timetable to resume a relationship with Fran.
