The end of the school year is often a joyful time for kids, but their parents may not look forward to this time of year. Child custody (conservatorship in Texas) and access conflicts may arise during school vacation as parents try to manage a new schedule.
Of course, if you are a parent, you want your children to have a fun and happy summer, but you may be concerned about whether there is any way to make co-parenting easier when the kids are out of school. The three tips below may help you and your co-parent have an easier time during summer break and maybe even find time for some fun of your own.
Plan ahead
Unfortunately, many busy parents don’t get around to planning the summer until the end of school is near. Remind yourself to talk with your co-parent about school break several months in advance. That way, you’ll have time to alter the schedule if your or your kids’ plans change.
Share information
Maybe you can’t have a talk with your ex without fighting, but you can probably still communicate and share information. Consider using emails or texts to exchange information about the kids and the summer schedule. Keeping messages short and on-point only can potentially help to minimize conflict.
Keep records
Writing everything down and saving digital correspondence may help you and your co-parent manage a chaotic summer with the kids out of school. Doing this can also provide you with valuable documentation if you and your co-parent experience a serious custody or parenting plan dispute.
If a simple disagreement about summer break is hard to resolve or continues causing problems, it could mean your family has outgrown your conservatorship orders. Legal guidance can help you determine if it’s time to negotiate or petition the court for a modification.
