Summer is fast approaching and with it, comes long sunny days, less hustle and bustle, and a relaxed schedule. However, if you are a parent who is divorced or separated, you might find that the lazy days of summer are complicated by time sharing schedules, coordinating vacation dates, and childcare options for your children. Here are some tips to help you navigate co-parenting during the summer months; however, you should always consult your Parenting Plan or Court Order to make sure you are following its defined terms.
Plan Ahead: Most Parenting Plans require that parents exchange important dates and requests for travel by a specific date each year. It is important for co-parents to work together to plan out their children’s schedule so that you can address any potential issues before they happen. One suggestion is to exchange dates by April 1st each year. That way, if there is a problem, there is ample time to address the issue prior to the beginning of summer.
Vacations: It is helpful to have an idea of what vacations you will want to take with the children and when you generally would like to travel. If your parenting plan requires notice to the other parent, make sure that you do so in a timely manner. Oftentimes parents may select conflicting travel dates and one way to handle this is to give each parent a year that their travel requests will control over the other parents dates. For example, Mom has even years and Dad has odd years.
Summer Camps: If your children are of school age, and both parents work, then summer camp may be a great way to keep your children busy during the summer months. Shared Parental Responsibility, dictates that the parents must mutually agree on extracurricular activities for the children, which includes summer camps. For this reason, it is (again) important to cooperate and plan ahead for the children’s camp activities. Additionally, these costs are often split by the parents equally or otherwise depending on income. Keep in mind that the cost for summer camps (and after-school care) which are incurred to allow both parents to work may qualify one or both parents for a tax credit. If these costs are divided between the parents by a percentage, then each party should declare their respective percentage share of the costs for their tax return, and not the amount they may have actually paid to the camp assuming a portion was reimbursed.
Create a Calendar. A shared calendar is the best way to keep everyone on the same page when it comes to a hectic summer schedule. There are numerous apps or calendar accounts that can be shared between individuals, so choose the one that may work best for your family.
Be flexible. Good co-parenting means being flexible when a request for a change is made. If a last minute opportunity arises for your children to visit a distant relative or to visit a place they have never explored, consider what that time will mean to them and think closely before you say no because you might lose out on time with your children. After all, summer is a time for children to rest, relax and recharge and what better way to do that then let them be kids and enjoy their summer unfettered from the conflicts of their parents.