Summer Parenting Post-Divorce

I know it may be a bit late, but did you and your ex spouse sit down in the Spring to discuss your summer parenting plan? If you’re like most New Jersey parents, getting your child into a summer camp was something you did last fall (seriously – I want to own a day camp!) but when it comes to vacations and the idle time children invariably have during the dog days of summer, it’s always a good idea to at least meet face to face (in a public place if you can’t get along too well so as to avoid shouting). You should talk about your summer parenting plan no later than May 1st to talk about what plans the kids have, what camps they’ll attend and where and when you both might like to take them on vacation. By getting these conversations settled sooner rather than later, you’ll avoid the unpleasant surprises and disappointments that will invariably occur when you both made plans for the same week in July to take them to Disneyland and one of you is left holding the bag. And besides, you don’t want to spend your summer engaged in post-divorce parent coordination stuck inside with me when you should be hanging out with Mickey, Donald and the rest of the gang!