For some Pasadena families the idea of vacationing together after a divorce may be unreasonable at best. But for a growing number of parents, the idea of spending a week together at the beach or a ski village is not outside the realm of possibility. Some divorced parents who have been able to take their children on vacation jointly have found that it can be a rewarding and even enjoyable experience. It can also be an effective way to mitigate parenting time and visitation issues that can arise when working out vacations times as part of a child custody arrangement.

Vacations are often times of firsts for children, whether it is the first time on a horseback ride or the first time skiing a black diamond. When parents take their children on vacations jointly they can both take part in those memorable experiences. Depending on the couple, the children may even enjoy a reduced level of tension or animosity between divorced parents compared to parents who where in the depths of a troubled marriage.

In a recent article on this trend, a Los Angeles mom described how she and her ex-husband take their young son on vacations together. For them it had started because their son was an infant and neither wanted to miss a first step or first word. That was in 2004. Since then both mother and father have remarried and now both couples vacation together along with the child and his half siblings.

It may not work for everyone but of some families it may not only cut down the cost of a family vacation by sharing expenses, but also provide some great memories.

Source: Associated Press "Some divorced families choose to vacation together" Karen Schwartz, March 17, 2011