How to Plan a Post-Divorce Family Vacation With Your Children
The first year following a divorce is a time of adjustment. In addition to figuring out your family’s new normal, you’ll also experience a series of firsts. One of these firsts may be your first family vacation with your kids. While this year’s summer vacation may look a little different, these tips can help you and your family have an enjoyable time.
Talk With Your Kids
Divorce can leave kids feeling like they don’t have a say in anything. Let them be a part of the vacation planning, including where and when you go on vacation. Keep in mind that planning your first family vacation without your ex-spouse may be very difficult for them. They may feel emotional and may even fight back at the idea of going on a vacation.
Plan Around the Kids’ Likes
Many family vacations are a mix of adult and kid-friendly activities. Try to make this year’s summer vacation about the kids. Choose a theme park or other child-friendly destination. Fill the trip with activities the kids enjoy doing. Choose a hotel or other accommodation that is designed for kids.
Talk With Your Ex-Spouse
It’s important to maintain open communication with your ex-spouse, especially if you share custody of the children. Talk with them about your upcoming plans and find out if they have any objections. It may also be a good idea to obtain a written letter that you’re taking them out of the state or country. This may or may not be necessary, but it can be helpful.
Invite Your Spouse
If you and your ex-spouse are working toward a collaborative divorce in which you’re both present, it may be a possibility to invite them. You can still get separate rooms and enjoy different activities with the kids. This also gives you time to enjoy a vacation since you can focus on yourself when the kids are with your ex-spouse.
Learning How to Navigate the Firsts
After the divorce paperwork is signed and it’s official, you and your ex-spouse will still have many things to discuss. The first year is a learning period for the whole family. For example, you and your ex-spouse may have agreed to equally split the children’s time, only to find out that due to locations, that’s not always possible.
Going into the first year of divorce knowing that you’ll still have things to figure out can help manage expectations. Planning ahead of things like summer vacations and holidays can help you and your spouse navigate while keeping the kids in mind. It’s okay to have disagreements and it may take some time for you to be able to talk to your spouse amicably.
If you find that it’s not productive to communicate with your spouse, it may be worth it to bring in a third party. Sometimes, the feelings are too fresh so having a third party can help work things out in a productive way. You and your family may also find value in working with a divorce lawyer to manage things like adjusted child custody agreements.
Contact a Moorestown Family Law Attorney for a Consultation About Divorce in New Jersey Today
If you are thinking about filing for divorce, or if you have already started the divorce process and are dealing with another matter such as child custody, child support, or division of assets, you need to speak with a qualified attorney. The New Jersey family law attorneys at Cordry Hartman LLC represent clients throughout the state, including Moorestown, Cherry Hill, Evesham Township, and Mount Laurel. We understand how challenging this time can be for you, which is why we will fight hard to protect your interests, and the interests of your loved ones, throughout the legal process. Call us at 856-452-4474 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a consultation. We have an office conveniently located at 505 S Lenola Rd Ste 224 Moorestown, NJ 08057.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.