Managing Summer Vacations With Kids After Divorce

Summer vacation is a time both children and their parents look to with great anticipation. More relaxed schedules and extended time to spend together allow for plenty of fun and bonding experiences. Unfortunately, if you are going through a divorce, your plans for this year may be much different than in the past. Find out how to include summer vacations in Illinois parenting plans while making the most of your trip. 

Incorporating Summer Vacations Into Your Parenting Plan

If you are a parent going through a divorce in Illinois, it is important to be aware of what to expect in terms of your children. Under the Illinois Statutes, the courts generally encourage child time-sharing arrangements that allow both parents to remain active and involved in their child’s life. 

This involves creating a parenting plan, which addresses important issues such as: 

• The amount of time the child spends in each parent’s home during the week;
• Overnight stays on weekends;
• Rights regarding holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions;
• Pick up and drop off arrangements;
• Time spent with each party on school breaks and family vacations. 

Your previous plans regarding family vacations will likely undergo some major changes after a divorce. In addition to organizing, paying for, and getting to destinations without the help of your spouse, you may need to plan your vacation well in advance and around certain dates, so that it can be included in your parenting plan.   

Making the Most of Summer Vacations After a Divorce

Picking dates far in advance of a trip so that they can be incorporated into an Illinois parenting plan can create some challenges. Other obstacles you are likely to face include affording vacations on only one income, managing travel with children on your own, and breaking with prior traditions. 

Some families have a set place they go on vacation each year. Rather than dealing with the potential problems this could pose in the aftermath of a divorce, you may need to make other arrangements. The following are tips to help you make the most of your time together: 

• Determine a budget and stuck with it;
• Look for options closer to home or that require less extensive travel;
• Consider staying with family or friends who live in other areas;  
• Make having family fun the top priority and choose budget-friendly options, such as picnics, hiking, or a day at the beach. 

Discuss Your Options With Our Illinois Divorce and Child Custody Attorney

At the Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group, we guide you in creating parenting plans and other important issues that need to be resolved in a divorce. To discuss your options, give us a call or contact our Illinois divorce and child custody attorneys online today.