Arranging summer holidays? Mediation can help!
With summer nearly upon us, families are gearing up for children to finish school and consider holiday arrangements.
It is not uncommon to struggle to agree on arrangements for children during the summer holidays. Unfortunately, it can be a time when conflict arises.
However, summer does not always have to result in disagreements between separated parents. With careful planning, arrangements can often be simple to agree.
HOW MEDIATION CAN HELP
Mediation is a great way of sorting out holiday plans.
It can provide a safe space for parents to discuss their proposals for the amount of time the children spend with each parent, and when.
We can provide parents with helpful tips on how to reduce conflict and disagreements for future holidays and how to communicate better. These include:
- Agreeing arrangements well in advance of each holiday – 3 months is a common time frame. This provides plenty of time to put in any annual leave requests that may be needed. It provides a reasonable timescale to book a holiday and provide the other parent with the details, rather than doing it at the last minute.
- Using a shared calendar – a shared calendar is a great everyday tool to help provide clarity for both parents and children. It is a useful way of agreeing holidays as each parent can see when the other may have plans with the children, and what dates to avoid. It can also help with any childcare that may need to be put in place whilst the children are off school.
- Communicating with one another – communication is absolutely critical for parents to be able to co-parent and agree on childcare. The same applies to holidays. Being open and honest can avoid any unexpected plans being dropped on each other at the last minute, which can cause unnecessary conflict.
- Put your children first – this may seem an obvious tip. However, when emotions run high, it is often something that is lost amongst the frustration. Stepping back and thinking about what they may want, and what is in their best interests is so important. Adopting a united approach and positively encouraging this will ensure a much happier time for the children.
Our Accredited Family Mediator, Paul Richardson, is experienced in helping couples resolve problems they may have regarding holiday arrangements and other issues concerning their children.
Futures Family Mediation is part of the Ministry of Justice Family Mediation Voucher Scheme. Parents will receive a contribution of £500 towards to costs of mediation where children and child arrangements are discussed. In many cases, one session alone may be enough to resolve the problems you are having.
If you feel mediation may help you as parents and provide you with key tips and tools to allow you to work together and co-parent better, please email us at paul.richardson@futuresmediation.co.uk, call us on 0115 648 2378 or 07745 144 815.
For further information about the mediation and the voucher scheme visit www.futuresmediation.co.uk
