If you share custody of your kids with your ex-spouse, you want to raise them in a fun and intellectually stimulating environment. Taking a family vacation may help you accomplish this objective, as children who travel tend to develop the sort of social, physical and cognitive skills that turn them into smart and productive adults.
Still, planning a vacation for your post-divorce family may have some challenges. To minimize conflict with your children’s co-parent, you may want to implement four simple strategies.
1. Tell your ex-spouse far in advance
Because uncertainty often fosters discontentment, you should notify your children’s co-parent long before your anticipated travel date. Doing so gives your ex-spouse an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns.
2. Gather medical records
Your children may sustain an injury or develop an illness on your vacation. For doctors at your destination to treat your ailing kids effectively, they may need to know about your children’s medical history. Therefore, before you travel, gather medical records and take them with you.
3. Encourage contact during the trip
Your ex-spouse may feel some apprehension or loneliness if he or she does not hear from the kids during your vacation. Consequently, you should encourage your children to make phone calls, send text messages or otherwise communicate with their other parent while they are away from home.
4. Check your parenting plan
Most importantly, you must be certain your upcoming vacation complies with your parenting plan or custody agreement. Accordingly, you should double-check these agreements to be certain your trip does not violate them.
By following existing rules, you do what you can to avoid a dispute with your ex-spouse. Ultimately, abiding by your parenting plan allows you to focus on giving your children the best possible vacation.