Parents who share custody after a divorce or breakup in Texas have many responsibilities. They have to routinely exchange custody and communicate about their children’s needs. Frequently, adjusting to shared custody can be a challenge for everyone in the family.
Separated parents may have to relearn how to communicate with one another and prioritize renewing their bond with their children. Summer vacation from school is an ideal time for parents to bond with their children. There are a few important considerations related to shared custody that parents typically need to address when negotiating custody terms or preparing for summer vacation.
Making up for lost time
Frequently, parents who share custody want to split parenting time as evenly as they can. Unfortunately, that goal is not always particularly realistic. One parent may have a more demanding job than the other or may live farther from the children’s school.
In scenarios where there is an uneven distribution of parenting time, summer vacation is an ideal time to make up for that discrepancy. One parent can potentially negotiate to spend entire weeks with their children during summer vacation. The older the children are, the more time they can spend away from their primary caregiver during their summer break from school.
Navigating vacation plans
Summer vacation is often a time to schedule family vacations. Parents who share custody may want to plan an exciting trip with their children to make new memories. In some cases, they may have already agreed to certain limitations on travel in their parenting arrangement.
Typically, either parent can travel as they wish with their children during their parenting time. However, they may need the consent and support of the other parent in cases where their plans may require them to reschedule the other parent’s time with the children.
Pre-approval might also be necessary if there are limits on travel out of state included in the parenting plan. The consent of the other parent is typically also necessary in cases involving international travel. Ideally, both parents can agree that a trip might be beneficial for the children.
Occasionally, parents may need to go back to court to resolve a dispute regarding decision-making authority and travel plans. Including the right provisions in a shared custody arrangement can help set parents up for summertime success and reduce the likelihood of conflict as they adjust to shared custody.
