When it comes to summer vacation planning, single parents face unique challenges that other parents don’t need to worry about. These challenges could strain relations with your ex, so it’s important to navigate your summer vacation appropriately.
Here are a few tips you’ll want to keep in mind to ensure your summer vacation is an enjoyable experience for you and your kids:
— Don’t get into a power struggle: During the summer months, children will have more time for fun. If the other parent plans something, your reaction may be to say “no.” Consider if it will be a good experience for your child and if your child will enjoy and base your decision on that. Don’t get into a power struggle about what you think your child will be doing.
— Keep with the routine: Did your child go to summer camp every year during your marriage? Maybe you think that this year should be different because now you’re divorced and things aren’t the same, and maybe it isn’t as convenient for you to do a traditional summer activity this year. Whatever you decide, make sure your decision respects your child’s interests, and do your best to keep as many of your child’s summer routines as possible.
— When the other parent is being difficult: It could be that you’re doing your best to stay flexible, but the other parent is causing problems for your summer plans. Whatever you do, don’t vent to your children. Keep your complaints about the other parent inside, or with a trusted friend. Complaining about the other parent will surely stress out your children and make them feel pulled from one parent to the other.
Nebraska parents planning their summer vacations may want to discuss their plans with a family law attorney to make sure that are appropriately informing the other parent. If, for example, the vacation is out-of-state, some parents could run into trouble with their custody agreement if they don’t get permission from the other parent in a timely fashion beforehand.
Source: Parenting, “A ‘Kids First’ Guide to Summer Planning for Divorced Parent,” Julie Gowthorpe, accessed May 03, 2017