Co-Parenting Tips for Summer Break

If you’re a divorced parent, you already know that school breaks can challenge even the best co-parenting plans. After all, both parents want to enjoy time with the kids! Add in jobs, extended family, and travel planning, and enjoying a memorable summer can get complicated in a hurry.  These co-parenting tips for summer break can help you all avoid or reduce conflict for a successful summer vacation. 

Plan ahead

As much as is possible, plan ahead. No one likes a surprise change in plans, so establishing what you want to do, and when you want to do it, is an important step. Your parenting plan will be a guide here, as it should lay out instructions for handling summer break and may even dictate how to solve problems, either by following the plan or by granting some flexibility. The last thing you want to do is book an incredible vacation, only to find out that it violates your custody agreement or that your ex isn’t willing to accommodate your plans. 

Communicate often

Summertime or anytime, communication is key when it comes to successful co-parenting. If your parenting plan allows for some flexibility, sharing your plans early may mean you each get to carry out your summer plans with ease. If you plan to take your child on vacation, communication is a must. Whether in-state or somewhere more far-flung, you likely have a legal obligation to inform your co-parent before you take your child out of town. Also remember that the unexpected can, and will, happen. Communication is key in these situations, so inform your co-parent about any necessary changes as soon as possible. 

Put your kids first

Allow your kids to make suggestions and provide input about their summer plans. Letting them have a voice - then doing what you can to support them - gives them some control over their own lives while also showing that you prioritize their wishes. Whatever your plans are, don’t spend the summer competing with your ex for your kids’ affection. Be as cordial and understanding to your former spouse as possible, so your kids aren’t caught in the middle of your conflict. 

Enlist a Baldwin County family lawyer

Is conflict with your co-parent making summer break plans difficult? Contact a family attorney for help with your custody-related issues. An attorney will understand the law and can help you make summer plans without violating your custody agreement.