7 Tips for Navigating Summer Parenting Challenges After Divorce

June 11, 2026

For many families, summer is a season filled with vacations, sports tournaments, camps, family reunions, and opportunities to create lasting memories. For divorced or separated parents, however, summer can also bring unique challenges when it comes to coordinating schedules, sharing expenses, and ensuring that children remain the top priority.

 

Understanding your parenting plan and maintaining open communication can help prevent conflicts and make summer more enjoyable for everyone involved. Here are some helpful tips from our team at Moskovitz, McGhee, Brown, Cohen and Moore that can help keep summer smooth.

 

TIP #1: Review Your Parenting Plan Before Summer Begins: One of the most important steps divorced parents can take is reviewing their parenting agreement well before summer activities begin. In Tennessee, parenting plans often contain specific provisions addressing summer parenting time, vacation schedules, travel requirements, and decision-making responsibilities. Some plans provide for extended summer visitation periods, while others outline deadlines for notifying the other parent about vacation plans. Reviewing these provisions early can help avoid misunderstandings and last-minute disputes. If your parenting plan is unclear or no longer reflects your family’s needs, it may be time to consult with an experienced family law attorney about potential modifications.

 

TIP #2: Communicate about Vacation Travel in Advance: Summer vacations are often a source of disagreement between co-parents. Questions commonly arise regarding:

  • Who gets priority for vacation weeks?
  • How much notice must be given?
  • Can a parent travel out of state with the children?
  • Is international travel permitted?
  • What information must be shared with the other parent?

Even when a parenting plan addresses these issues, communication remains essential. Providing travel itineraries, contact information, and emergency details can help build trust and reduce anxiety for both parents. The goal should be ensuring that children can enjoy their vacation experiences without feeling caught in the middle of parental disagreements.

 

TIP #3: Plan Ahead to Avoid Summer Camps and Activities Scheduling Conflicts: From overnight camps to day camps and sports leagues, summer activities often overlap with parenting schedules. Parents should discuss activities as early as possible and consider factors such as:

  • The child’s interests and preferences
  • Transportation responsibilities
  • Whether activities interfere with parenting time
  • Costs associated with participation
  • The overall benefit to the child

In Tennessee, courts generally expect parents to make decisions that support their children’s best interests rather than using activities as leverage in co-parenting disputes.

 

TIP #4: Agree in Advance on Who Pays for Summer Expenses: Another common source of conflict involves the costs associated with summer activities. Expenses may include:

  • Summer camps
  • Sports registration fees
  • Equipment and uniforms
  • Travel expenses
  • Childcare during school breaks
  • Vacation-related costs

The answer often depends on the language contained in the parenting plan or divorce decree. Some agreements divide extracurricular expenses equally, while others allocate costs based on income percentages or require mutual agreement before expenses are incurred.

Before registering a child for an expensive activity, parents should discuss the cost and payment expectations in advance. Surprising the other parent with a bill after the fact can quickly create unnecessary conflict.

 

TIP #5: Put Children’s Well-Being Above Personal Differences: Children should never feel responsible for managing their parents’ disagreements. Unfortunately, summer schedule disputes can sometimes place children in uncomfortable situations. Parents can help protect their children by:

  • Avoiding negative comments about the other parent
  • Not asking children to relay messages
  • Encouraging children to enjoy time with both parents
  • Remaining flexible when reasonable
  • Focusing on what benefits the child rather than “winning” a disagreement

Children thrive when they have healthy relationships with both parents and when they feel free to enjoy summer experiences without conflict or guilt.

 

TIP #6: Get Legal Guidance When Necessary: While many co-parenting issues can be resolved through communication, some situations require legal assistance. Repeated violations of parenting plans, disagreements regarding travel, disputes over expenses, or significant scheduling conflicts may warrant consultation with a family law attorney such as one of our seasoned attorneys here at Moskovitz, McGhee, Brown, Cohen & Moore. An attorney can help clarify parental rights and responsibilities, enforce existing court orders, or seek modifications when circumstances have changed.

 

TIP #7: Remember, A Child-Focused Approach Creates Better Summers:  Summer should be a time for children to make memories, explore new experiences, and strengthen family relationships. By understanding the terms of their parenting agreement, communicating proactively, and keeping the child’s best interests at the center of every decision, divorced parents can minimize conflict and maximize the enjoyment of the season. When questions arise regarding parenting plans, summer schedules, travel, or child-related expenses, seeking legal guidance early can help prevent disputes and keep the focus where it belongs: on the well-being of the children.

 

If we may be of service in helping you navigate such family law challenges, feel free to reach out to us at 901-821-0044.