Summer breaks are a time that children usually look forward to because it means taking a break from school. That break can be challenging for parents because they may have to figure out child care and similar matters.
The difficulty that comes with summer breaks for parents is increased when the parents have a court-approved parenting plan. For parents in this position, it’s critical to understand the terms of the plan, particularly the parenting time schedule. This helps them to know when they’ll have the children with them so they can plan accordingly.
1. Sharing child care may be possible
If both parents live in the same area, they may be able to share child care, which keeps things consistent for the child. This requires that both parents agree on the childcare option they’ll use. They also need to set the expectations for who will pay for the child care. For example, they may agree to split the cost evenly or they may choose to divide it based on the parenting time schedule.
2. Vacation plans can be challenging
Planning a vacation is one specific challenge that requires special thought. In some cases, the vacation plans will trump the summer parenting time schedule, which means that the parent planning the vacation needs to notify the other parent so they can make appropriate adjustments to the schedule. Checking the parenting plan for geographical limitations or notifications is critical, and parents will likely need written documentation from the other parent for international travel.
Having a parenting plan that clearly outlines the terms for summers may help to take the stress off both parents. This may not be easy to get done, but it might be a bit less complicated if the parents work with someone familiar with these matters.
