Once your divorce is over you may well need a break. Getting away for a few days can be a welcome change for you and your kids; a chance to reset after the traumatic events of the past few months.
You will need to bear some things in mind for this and any future trips you might take with the kids.
How will it affect your parenting schedule?
Not every break will fall neatly within a parent’s scheduled time with the kids. Sometimes you might want or need to cross into the other parent’s allotted time. Being flexible with each other over this can make things much easier for everyone.
Will you need your ex’s permission?
You probably do not need your co-parent’s permission if you are just going for a couple of nights camping in a nearby national park on days the kids are due to stay with you, then. If you want to travel overseas you definitely do, and you’ll need it in writing. For anything in between, it will depend on the circumstances and your relationship.
How can your kids stay in touch with your co-parent?
Some parents are fine with not speaking to their kids every day. Others are not. The same applies to children. Just agree on a plan that works for your family. What you don’t want to do is leave the children or their other parent feeling you have stopped them from communicating. Or for the communication to interrupt you and the kids’ enjoyment of the time away.
Seeking advice on how to put some boundaries regarding all this in your custody agreement is a good place to start.
