Divorce is already challenging, but when summer break comes around, managing schedules with kids at home can quickly feel overwhelming. Between planning vacations, managing summer camps and adjusting to new custody routines, you need a solid plan to keep everything calm and focused on what’s best for your kids. With the right approach, you can make this summer smoother for everyone, starting with a clear co-parenting schedule.
Use a shared calendar to stay organized
Start planning early, and use a shared calendar. Try Google Calendar or even a notebook to help you map out important dates like camp schedules, vacation weeks, work travel, holidays and birthdays. When you keep everything organized in one place, you stay on top of plans, fell less overwhelmed and help your kids feel more secure.
With your calendar organized, turn your focus to vacation time. Here’s how to split those precious summer weeks to ensure fairness and avoid confusion:
Make vacation plans clear
Avoid confusion and ensure fairness by being specific when dividing summer vacation time.
- Determine how many vacation weeks each parent gets
- Decide whether you’ll switch years or stick to the same weeks
- Set how much advance notice you need to give for trips
- Clarify whether out of state or international travel requires permission
Put these items in your parenting plan or ask your attorney to include them in temporary orders while your divorce is pending. When you define time clearly, you avoid misunderstandings and protect your time with your children.
After you’ve settled vacation time, coordinating summer camps and other activities is just as important for keeping things on track.
Coordinate camps and activities together
Summer camps can easily disrupt your routine, unless you plan ahead. Sit down with your co- parent and decide who will choose the camps, who will pay for them, who will handle transportation and how overnight camps will affect the custody rotation.
When you make these decisions together, you show your kids that you’re still working as a parenting team and that their happiness still comes first.
Coordinating plans helps keep things smooth, but flexibility is just as important when the unexpected comes up.
Stay flexible but put it in writing
Life happens. You might need to switch weekends or adjust for a last minute trip. Be flexible when you can, but always confirm changes via a quick text or email to keep both of you on the same page. This also helps you avoid confusion later on.
Show flexibility to build trust, but always back it up with written agreements to protect everyone, including your kids, from confusion, misunderstandings and future disputes. Ultimately, focus on your children’s well being, and that includes giving them a stable and stress free summer.
Make this summer about your kids
You don’t need to fight over summer break. Stay organized, plan ahead and put your children’s needs first. Do that, and you’ll set the stage for a summer that works for everyone. You may consult a family law attorney about adding summer plans to your custody agreement. A well-defined parenting schedule provides your kids with the stability they need and gives you peace of mind as you manage through the divorce process.