It is that dreaded time of year again… when parents start to scramble to figure out what they will do with their children for three months while they are out of school. No matter how many times you have been through this stressful scenario, you are never prepared when it approaches. There are high expectations to take great vacations, enroll them in great fulfilling camps, and to handle pick-ups and drop-offs without the benefit of a consistent schedule that everyone is acclimated to. If this is your first summer post-divorce, it can make it that much more stressful. Here are some tips we hope will be helpful;
Get on the same page early!
Work together to decide how the schedule will play out for the summer. Write down the weeks that will need to be covered, calendar any proposed vacations and get the entire summer on the calendar as early as possible. This helps to avoid the added frustration of last-minute requests that are denied because plans were already made.
Respect guidelines that are in place.
If you have agreed to 30-day notice before taking vacations, stick to that rule. The more you adhere to the boundaries you agreed to, the more you will build trust within your co-parent. Once a few years have gone by, and you are at a better place, and the trust has been re-established, it is ok to be a little more flexible. In the beginning, it is always a good rule of thumb to follow the guidelines and respect the agreements you took the time to make.
Don’t forget your Consent to Travel letter!
Letter of Consent to Travel for Minor
If you plan to travel with your children out of the country this summer, don’t forget to obtain a letter from your co-parent that states their permission for you to travel with the children, out of state or country, without her or him. If you do a simple Google search “Consent to Travel with minor child” you will find a ton of free sample letters. Without this letter, you can find yourself stuck at the airport unable to leave with your kids.
Need help figuring out summer plans? Contact San Diego Family Mediation Center today!
by: Jennifer Segura
