Co-Parenting in the Summertime

Posted on Jul 17, 2024 by

With summertime comes beautiful weather, outdoor activities, vacations and that sweet break from the school year for kids. The sudden lack of a consistent schedule, however, can pose difficulty for parents. This is all the more true for families that are navigating co-parenting between multiple households. Whether it’s your first summer co-parenting with a former partner or things have changed as your children have grown, stick to the following tips to keep this summer the peaceful, worry-free time it should be for your kids and yourselves.  

Keep a Shared Calendar 

Sports schedules, summer school and slumber parties are what summer is all about. They’re also difficult to keep track of without a well-organized calendar system. Digital calendars that can be accessed by all parents as well as older children are a great solution. Our Family Wizard is commonly used by co-parenting families with features that, on top of the standard calendar, allow you to share important documentation and track expenses.  

Maintain Consistent Expectations 

It’s common for the house rules to adjust slightly in the summer months. Whether tackling later bedtimes or setting parameters for screen time, kids thrive on consistency and clear and understandable expectations. Communicate with your co-parent and, if they are old enough to partake in the conversation, your children to establish agreed upon expectations that will help to avoid resentment as the season goes on.  

Plan Ahead 

With school being out, summer is a common time to plan family getaways. If you plan to take a family vacation, make sure your plans are communicated to your co-parent well ahead of time so that they can plan accordingly. Consult your parenting agreement for any agreed upon arrangements regarding timelines and traveling out of state. Understand that this season may require some flexibility compared to your school year parenting schedule. Maybe one parent will request extended time in June while the other will do the same in August. Even if you won’t be changing your schedule, each parent should know where the children will be if they’re leaving the area. 

Utilize Your Family Lawyer 

Every summer brings new questions and challenges as your children grow and you either begin or continue your co-parenting journey. Your family lawyer, however, has likely helped families through similar situations before. The family law attorneys at McCarty Law can help you work through the complicated process of re-organizing and understanding your custody agreement in the changing seasons to help this summer be one that everyone in your family can make the most of.  

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Katherine Canadeo

Family Law Attorney at McCarty Law LLP
Katie efficiently and compassionately assists clients going through divorce and other family law matters. She will assist clients in initiating or responding to petitions for divorce, legal separation, family support, or child custody revisions, and is frequently appointed as a parent coordinator for minor children.