The unofficial start of summer is still three weeks away, but as we have noted in prior posts, it is never too early to plan for holiday events. Memorial Day weekend is a time for family get-togethers, barbeques and fun times at amusement parks, but they can easily be derailed by disputes over parenting time.
This post will revisit some of our tips for planning and negotiating so that you may avoid the emotion fueled disputes that can affect your children for years to come.
Plan ahead – This may seem obvious, but it is surprising how many parents start arguments over last minute plans (or trips) that the other parent was not aware of. Remember, most parenting time orders call for vacations to be planned at least 30 days in advance.
Have a backup plan – The old adage “the best laid plans sometimes go awry” applies here. What happens if a family emergency occurs on the eve of a Memorial Day weekend get away? What happens if a parent suddenly cannot make it to the exchange point? These are things to think about to avoid parenting time issues.
Don’t wait for a court date – Filing a motion to prevent a child from seeing the other parent or from going on a vacation won’t help the situation. Chances are that by the time it would take for a court to hear your argument, the holiday would have already passed. Generally, it is easier to negotiate a compromise than to fight in court.
Source: About.com, 5 summer parenting questions answered