Parents want the best for their kids, and that often includes creating positive experiences and memories on family vacations. While planning to travel with the kids can be fun, it is important to keep scheduled vacation times in mind if you are co-parenting due to separation or divorce. And if you do not have a schedule in place, creating one can help you to avoid disputes.
Children benefit when they can spend healthy bonding time with both parents. Because of this, there are co-parent guidelines when it comes to scheduling vacations. Talk to a Tampa family lawyer about your hopes for a parenting plan. An attorney can share with you what parenting plans include and how creating one can help you focus on fostering a happy and stable environment for the children.
Planning Vacations and Open Communication
To avoid last-minute conflicts, it’s crucial to plan vacations well in advance. Inform the other parent about your intended vacation dates. Being transparent and cooperative will help build trust and minimize disagreements.
Some co-parents also benefit from clear and open communication about vacation plans. For example, if you share the destination, accommodation details, and contact information, it may provide your co-parent with peace of mind. Setting a date and time when a child can call and check in with their other parent is also often appreciated.
In line with communication, being flexible often allows ex-partners to co-parent effectively. So if your co-parent has already planned a vacation during a time that you initially wanted, consider being flexible and finding an alternative arrangement as this willingness to compromise can go a long way in maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship.
Because scheduling conflicts can and do arise, set vacation times are the choice for many co-parents. For instance, if you have an extended family reunion that happens every Labor Day weekend, you can have that long weekend vacation included in your parenting plan. If your co-parent is resistant, consider having the kids stay with them for Memorial Day weekends in exchange. Often compromise is the path to a solution that works for all parties.
Be Mindful of Parenting Styles
Co-parenting often involves children being brought up by two parents with different parenting styles. While this is normal, being mindful of these parenting differences when at home and on vacation gives children the comfort of routine. So, if you and your ex-partner have agreed on a bedtime for the kids on school nights, maybe there can also be an agreement on what time the children will go to bed when on vacation. Expectations allow both parents to enjoy the quality time they have with their kids without undermining each other’s rules and boundaries. To learn more, discuss parenting plan rule options with an experienced Tampa family lawyer.
Is planning vacations with your kids a top priority for you? When co-parents work together to build a vacation schedule, expensive and lengthy legal disputes can be avoided.
