Tips to Help You Have a Stress-Free Summer Vacation as a Divorced Parent

Summer is the time of the year when many families take vacation. But as a divorced parent, this might be a source of stress, especially if you have shared custody or visitation arrangements you need to plan around.

The following are a few tips to help you have a stress-free summer vacation as a divorced parent:

• Have stipulations in your parenting plan: Your parenting plan is a part of your divorce agreement that outlines how you and your former partner will continue to co-parent and handle monetary issues, visitation and any other issues associated with raising children. You should include stipulations that cover what will happen when you go on vacation, including time limits, activities that are or are not acceptable, visitation and custody rescheduling and any other issues that could arise.
• Work within your budget: After you have gotten divorced, you might not have as much money as you once did to put toward your vacation. It can be tempting to want to give your children a big treat, especially right after the divorce is finalized. However, the smartest choice is to work within your budget and go on a trip that will not stretch your finances too far.
• Consider the other parent’s perspective: What does the other parent’s schedule look like? Are certain elements of your vacation plans likely to make them upset or resentful? It will help your co-parenting relationship in the long term to consider the other parent’s perspective when making your plans — at least to some extent.
• Keep the kids out of the planning: Your children do not need to know how much things cost, who paid for what, the negotiations you had to make with the other parent to make the vacation possible or any other logistics. Let them focus on having a great time, and nothing else.

For the legal guidance you need related to custody, visitation and co-parenting, meet with an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.