Believe it or not but summer is just around the corner. While this causes excitement amongst students, it can cause anxiety for parents who haven’t yet nailed down summer plans for their kids.
This is especially true for parents in Illinois who have gone through divorce and must also consider the wishes of the other parent when figuring out a summer schedule.
Start planning right away. If you haven’t already arranged a summer schedule for your kids, now is the time to get it done. That means to write down all of the summer activities and trips you want your children to take part in along with the dates so that you can easily go over them with the other parent.
Work with the other parent or a mediator to reach a summer plan that works for both of you. If you can, sit down with the other parent and compare notes to figure out any vacations, events, sports, camps or lessons that you each have in mind. If it’s too hard to meet one-on-one, a mediator can be a great resource.
Keep your children’s best interests as the main priority. Summer can be difficult for young children if it disrupts their normal schedule too much. Consider that before you make drastic changes to the schedule you used during the school year.
For parents who are looking to modify their child custody arrangement permanently, Illinois law requires a court order. An experienced family law attorney can help with this process.
