As a divorcing parent, one of your priorities will be deciding on a pattern of custody and parenting time that is workable for your child, yourself and your co-parent. It is crucial to remember that not all of the year follows the same pattern for your children. Most of the year they will spend Monday to Friday at school — but summer vacations throw the usual schedule into disarray.
Just as when you were married, the summer vacations may be the most challenging when it comes to accommodating the schedule for the kids.
Childcare over summer
Even if you can work from home so that you can be on hand for your kids, they may soon get bored if you are not free to entertain them.
Some parents find summer camps are a good option. The children will be kept occupied and hopefully well cared for. It is only an option for older children, though. Smaller ones might be able to spend some time in summer activities in the local town, but you’ll still need to be there to ferry them back and forth.
Grandparents or other family members can sometimes be a big help, perhaps taking the children for a few days or weeks. Other than that, it’s probably down to you and your co-parent alternating time off work to care for the kids.
Trips away may require permission
Many parents take their children away on vacation during the summer. This is something you should discuss and make plans for during the divorce. You don’t need to know where and when you will go just yet. But you need to talk about giving each other permission to travel with the children and signing authorization where needed. You’ll also need to discuss how the traveling parent will help the children keep in touch with the non-traveling parent while away.
Having these discussions now might seem premature with winter still in full swing. But thinking ahead is key to a successful custody and parenting plan.
