Children look forward to summer all year long. It’s a chance for them to have a break from school and enjoy being outdoors. For some families, this is also a time to go on vacation.
Parents who are divorced may find the summer months to be a bit more stressful than they were prior to the divorce. These three tips may help you to reduce the stress during this period if you’re facing a summer as a co-parent.
1: Check the parenting time schedule early
The parenting time schedule may have special provisions for summer months. Make sure you know when you’ll have your children with you so that you can set up childcare plans if you need them. You and your ex may be able to share the same childcare, with each paying the bill for their parenting time.
2: Set vacation plans and tell your ex
Set your vacation plans as early as you can. Most parenting plans require both parents to inform each other about travel with the children. When you plan your vacation, be sure that you don’t set the itinerary up in a way that you’ll have to rush or be stressed out.
3: Establish new traditions
Focus on building new traditions with your children. These should be activities that everyone enjoys, so it may take time to figure them out. Don’t try to rely solely on expensive options. Instead, simple things like having an ice cream sundae bar on a special night can be just as meaningful.
The parenting plan should contain critical information that enables everyone to have clear expectations about every aspect of the co-parenting relationship. Working with someone who’s familiar with your situation and what’s best for your children may be beneficial in these cases.