With summer vacation right around the corner, thoughts on how to keep kids busy, entertained, structured, happy, and distracted from the throes of your divorce are probably beginning.
Kids who are home from school have a lot of available time that needs to be scheduled. Some will benefit from going away to camp or to their grandparents, while others will benefit from more one-on-one time with parents because they may find the isolation from divorce as alienating.
A good place to start is by asking your older kids (12 and up) how they want to spend their summer before any final decisions are made.
If your divorce is final, you are required to abide by your final divorce decree regarding summer visitation. If you do not yet have a final divorce decree, I highly recommend that you begin discussing with your ex-spouse a summer schedule for the children.
There are several reasons for coming to a summer visitation arrangement sooner rather than later:
1. You can make travel plans, if necessary;
2. You can make arrangements for taking time off work or arrange child care/camp during the time you have the children; and
3. You can ensure that both parents will have some extended free time with the children over the summer.
There is no shortage of tensions that can easily explode if unaddressed. In order to facilitate a peaceful summer, divorced parents will need to cooperate with each other.
Plan a budget for your child(ren’s) summer activities.
Plan for your child’s summer job – pick up, drop off and/or car situation
Plan for how much time you will be with your child(ren):
You and your ex-spouse (or soon to be) or the court may agree to modify child support payments in different amounts during vacation periods when the child is with the noncustodial parent more than during the regular school year or use that money towards activities, camp, travel, etc.
Plan for your child’s camp or summer school:
If you are paying for child support, will you continue to pay the same amount of child support or can you agree to pay for other children expenses in lieu of child support?
Make arrangements regarding who will drop off and pick up your child(ren).
Plan for your child(ren) staying at home in the summer:
Will your child-related costs increase? For example, will you have greater expenses for babysitting, food, entertainment, driving, etc? How will these increased costs be shared, if at all, with your ex-spouse?
The Law Offices of Steven B. Chroman and The New Way to Divorce Santa Clarita Mediators at the Law Offices of Steven B. Chroman, P.C., are committed to helping you understand your options and make the best choices for yourself. Call our offices at 661-255-1800 or visit us online at www.ANewWay2Divorce.com and www.chromanlaw.com for your free consultation today! Be sure to visit amazon.com for Steven B. Chroman’s Best Selling Divorce Workbook.
This article was originally published in Santa Clarita Magazine as part of our firm’s mission to make family law information more accessible to the Santa Clarita community. Read the full feature and others at santaclaritamagazine.com.