It's not too early to start planning that spring break or summer vacation

For those of us who are parents with school-aged children, spring break and summer vacation offer us a time to get away with our kids and visit grandparents, the coast, the woods, a favorite theme park or a national treasure.

For those of us who are divorced parents with school-aged kids, this may be the only time we have extended time during the year to do that.

Does your Decree or last custodial order provide you with that kind of uninterrupted time to do that?

Is it time to make a change so that it gives you the time you want with your child?

As the children grow older, we parents think about the time we have left to take our children on those trips we hope they will remember forever.

As they age, it becomes more and more important that they have quality family time with us before they embark on their own future.

If your Decree or last custodial orders do not provide for adequate time for you to spend those moments with your child, whether for the spring break that is quickly approaching us, or summer vacation just a few short months away, or even time every week, call us to see if there are some improvements that we can help you make.

Remember, the guiding principle is what is in the best interest of the child.

That is what should guide us as parents and also what the courts are guided by.

Meet with Merrilee A. Parr, who has worked for the best interests of children as a lawyer since 1997.

Call her at (208) 667-1227 to make an appointment so you don’t lose those valuable moments with your children.

Ms. Parr has owned her own law practice in northern Idaho since 1997, after working in the Coeur d’Alene City Attorney’s office as a prosecutor.

She has extensive pre-legal experience, which includes working as a caseworker for Child Protective Services and a case manager for the Arizona Supreme Court (Foster Care Review Board).