Tips for Successful Co-Parenting During Summer Vacation

 Posted on December 00,0000 in DuPage County divorce lawyer

With kids getting out of school and the weather warming up, June marks the unofficial start to summer. For many people, this means more time for family bonding and vacations, but for families with divorced parents, it can be a stressful time of adjustment. Having a child and being divorced means there is typically a set schedule specifying when a child will be with which parent, but that same timetable during the school year will not necessarily work over summer break. In order to make your and your child’s summer as carefree as possible, here are a few tips for successful co-parenting during the summertime months:

1. Plan Ahead and Communicate

The key to minimal conflict is to plan your summer in advance as much as possible and keep your ex-spouse in the loop. Try to talk with your ex beforehand and come up with a plan of how you would like to split parenting time during the summer. If you decide to play it by ear, be sure to let your co-parent know of any vacations that you plan on taking or any other activities in which your child will be participating.

2. Be Flexible

Flexibility is important when it comes to co-parenting, especially during the summer months. If you are taking your child on a vacation, be sure to continue to let him or her communicate with the other parent through whenever and however they would like. If your child does not want to do something that you planned, do not worry about it too much and find something else to do. A change in the routine can affect your child in many types of ways. Understand that your child is trying to adjust the best way he or she knows how.

3. Do Not Make it a Competition

Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is that you should be using summer vacation to enjoy the time you spend with your child, rather than trying to outshine your ex-spouse. Your child will typically not care if you take him or her on a trip to Disney World or just have a movie night at home. Your son or daughter is just happy to be spending time with you. Making everything a competition just creates more tension between you and your ex-spouse, and it can have a negative effect on your relationship with your child.

4. Consider Modifying Your Parenting Plan

If your parenting plan does not allow for flexibility during the summer months, you may want to consider having your parenting plan modified to reflect a schedule on which you and your ex can both agree. This can be especially helpful if you and your ex-spouse do not get along very well or if there is already hostility between the two of you.

5. Contact a Parenting Plan Attorney

Summer break should be a time that both you and your child can relax, kick back, and have some fun. In some cases, a parenting plan modification may be necessary in order to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for your child. It is best to speak to an experienced family law attorney who can help you create a summer parenting plan that suits your family’s needs.

Contact a DuPage County Divorce Attorney

A summer parenting schedule can provide a routine and a sense of structure for you and your child when school is out. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we can help you determine whether or not a modification would be beneficial. Our skilled Aurora parenting plan lawyer will ensure your parenting plan is adapted to fit your family’s needs. Call our office today at 630-409-8184 to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

http://coparently.com/co-parenting-through-summer

https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/family-law-attorney/seven-tips-for-planning-summer-holidays-a-co-parenting-guide

https://goodmenproject.com/divorce/co-parenting-through-summer-more-sunshine-less-divorce-shade-dg/