As the summer months approach in Florida, parents who have a child custody agreement will have to determine the best way to approach their plans. It can be difficult to handle this type of situation because the weeks when school is out of session are the ones when the normal schedule changes and you have to figure out how to make schedules work.
Child custody orders usually include specific information for how to handle the summer months and other school breaks. Because of this, reviewing the child custody order before you make plans is a good idea. Preparing for the changes might help you to feel a bit less stress.
Your child may have trouble
Some children have difficulties when their schedule changes suddenly. This can prove to be an issue as you help them transition from the way of doing things during the school year into the summer. One potential challenge is that they may be accustomed to seeing one parent more than the other, but that might change now. Be prepared to address your child’s emotions and help them to learn how to cope with them in an acceptable manner.
Communication is important
Not only do you need to communicate with your ex to ensure that plans are set in place, you also have to make sure that you are planning for your children to communicate with your ex. It is always best for the adults to speak directly to each other and children should never be used as messengers.
Consider using different forms to help the kids stay in touch with the parent whom they aren’t with at the time. Video chats are one alternative to phone calls since they allow both people to see each other. This may help children to feel better over the summer.
Double check summer plans
Whether you have a vacation planned or will stay closer to home during the summer, it is a good idea to double check the plans for the kids. Verify any changes that were made to accommodate trips or other events. This ensures that everyone is following the same schedule now and can reduce the risk of misunderstandings.
Even if you have your children more in the summer than you do in the school year, keep up with child support payments. Throughout the year, make sure that you are in compliance with the custody order. If there are points that aren’t working any longer, discuss the possibility of a modification to find out if this can benefit your child.