Divorced parents in California and throughout the country may be looking forward to spending more time with their children during the summer months. However, it is important to understand and respect the needs of the child as well as the other parent. Ideally, parents will spend time talking about their summer plans as soon as possible. If there are any issues that they cannot resolve on their own, it may be worth seeking the services of a mediator.
No matter how stressful summer planning may be, it is important that parents not speak ill of each other around their children. Consulting the parenting plan can make it easier to determine who will have a child and when. In some cases, it may be necessary to revise the plan or otherwise be flexible as children get older and parents experience changes in their lives.
Children should know ahead of time what to expect during their summer vacation. They should also understand that the rules will be roughly the same regardless of which parent they are with. A clear plan and clear rules can help a child feel less stress and anxiety about what is going to happen in the short-term. Hopefully, parents will set rules and create boundaries with the sole intent of serving the best interests of their children.
In most cases, parenting time will be allocated equitably. If there is reason to believe that a parent could be a danger to his or her child, that parent may be stripped of custody or visitation rights. Alternatively, those rights could be limited or suspended until safety concerns have been eliminated. An attorney may help a mother or father who is looking to retain or obtain greater rights to his or her child.
