Don’t delay making parenting arrangements until the school holiday arrives!
With the school holidays nearly upon us and with that a change of routine, many families are faced with trying to agree what the arrangements for the children should be. The summer holidays are long and living arrangements that work well in term-time can prove inadequate in the summer when routines change.
Family mediators are often asked for help by separated parents who can’t agree between themselves what will work best for the children during the long school break.
The time that the children will spend with each parent during this period can be tricky to agree and, as the holidays loom, stress levels can rise. Often parents assume that the arrangements will work themselves out, or they may have spent months exchanging dates, but it can be far from straightforward.
This is because it is not just about who will look after the children day-to-day. You may also need to consider special arrangements for one or other parent taking the children away for a summer break and both parents may have work commitments which prevent them from taking extended periods of leave to cover the necessary child care.
And there are added complications, for example:
- How will any summer breaks be funded?
- How might a parent’s new partner fit into the equation?
- What role might grandparents play during the school holiday?
- Will the children attend holiday clubs and how will these be funded?
- How can holidays be organised to take account of other plans which blended families may need to make?
Mediation can help you tailor a plan that fits your unique family circumstances, and our advice is to get in touch soon, don’t leave it until the last minute.
Making the arrangements in good time for all of the holidays will give certainty to both parents, bringing you peace of mind. And it means the children know what is coming in the weeks ahead.
Whilst planning ahead is ideal we do appreciate that sometimes arrangements just haven’t come together and mediation can also really help focus on making arrangements when time is of the essence.
Anyone wanting to find out more about the benefits of family mediation offered by Gardner Leader can contact Suzy Hamshaw here.