Summertime can be a great opportunity for children living with divorced parents that have joint custody, to have time to spend with both of their parents. Joint custody allows both of the parents to share the responsibilities and physical care of their child.
It is important for parents in this situation to keep peace with their ex for the sake of their child. Doing so allows the child to keep a loving and healthy relationship with both of the parents after a divorce, but it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure their child is keeping a relationship with their other parent as well.
One way to make sure the peace is kept over the summer with joint custody is to create a schedule with your ex. Having a schedule that is signed off on by both parents and submitted to a family court judge can help avoid issues in the future and create an awareness of how the summer is going to go for both of the parents. Making sure everyone involved is clear on what the routine is going to be will make everything easier for not only the parents but the child too.
Summer is a time for families to go on vacations since the kids are out of school. When dealing with parents in a joint custody situation, it is important to respect your ex and make sure they are aware of the vacations you plan on taking with the child. It is also important to notify your ex as far in advance as possible so that no problems occur. In the best interest of your child, it would be a good idea to sit down with your ex and discuss the summer plans you have. If both parents work together and decide how the weeks are going to be split, it will give both parents the opportunity to have equal chances to create memories with their child that will not obstruct on the other parent’s time with the child.
Being that summer schedule guidelines can sometimes be less specific than during the school year, it is more responsibility on the parents to decide how the child will spend their summer. Make sure your child is in a healthy situation and remember that keeping peace with your child’s other parent not only sets a positive example, but it enriches their relationship with both of the parents equally.
