Top Ten List: Do’s and Don’ts for Divorced & Blended Families during Spring Break
DO:
Use your best efforts to personally exercise Spring Break with your child. A child can feel like they aren’t important to you if you are supposed to exercise Spring Break with the child and don’t make the effort to do so.
Involve your child with making plans for Spring Break.
Advise the other parent well in advance what the plans are going to be for Spring Break, including a specific itinerary, so that the other parent can assist the child in anticipating the plans and packing appropriate clothing/gear.
Attempt to co-parent with the child’s other parent regarding ground rules regarding how much time a child can use their cell phone, video games & watch TV and if they should be removed at a certain time at night.
Be at the airport on time if you are meeting your child at the airport.
DON'T:
Use a child’s electronics as a babysitter in lieu of spending personal “one-on-one” time with the child.
Make disparaging remarks about the other parent and don’t let your extended family do so. A child feels part of both parents so when disparaging comments are made about a parent the child feels bad about themselves.
Discuss pending/past litigation that involved the child or express resentment about the other parent. Keep the later information for your counselor.
Make your child feel guilty that they will not be with you over Spring Break.
Introduce a new “significant other” to your child. This is your child’s spring break, not your chance to further a personal agenda.
We didn’t realize we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun! - Winnie the Pooh