Divorce and Summer Break

Whether you have just recently divorced or separated from your spouse or you have done so a few years ago, summer break can pose a challenge to any co-parenting team especially when visitation plans go out the window.

Here are some key points to consider as you make your summer vacation plans:

• Include a summer routine on your parenting plan. This way you will know to switch to “vacation mode” once the summer break comes.
• Create a summer routine, talk with your co-parent, and establish a new summer calendar, include special dates and activities such as camps, outings or travel on this calendar and STICK TO IT. This will help with consistency.
• Remember, there is no such thing as a DIVORCE EMERGENCY. No court will give you an emergency hearing for a summer break conflict, so your best friend is planning, planning, planning.
• If you are taking the kids overseas or traveling out of state, provide the other parent with a phone number where the child can be reached while on vacation, and vice-versa.
• Don’t use the children as messengers. All planning and information regarding vacations (itineraries, changes in plans, etc.) needs to be communicated directly.
• Allow the children to be excited about the vacation with the other parent.

**DISCLAIMER**

If you are in a high conflict situation with your co-parent it may not be the best idea for the kids to switch back and forth between co-parents very often during the summer months. When dealing with divorce and summer break you must always have the benefit and welfare of your children as your number one priority.

You deserve to be happy and be the best parent you can be for your children.