We’ve taken two children on vacations. These were the logistics: 

Vacation to N.J. with L (F, age 5):

• We needed to get permission from L’s father in jail. The social worker had to make this happen because we had no direct contact with him. This took some time.
• We brought our custody and emergency letters.
• We gave the social worker all of the information: travel times, itinerary, who we’d be with, etc.
• How long we were gone: about a week!
• Travel: road trip!
• Things we did: Storybook Land, Seaside, Swim at Gigi and PawPaw’s house

Vacation to N.J. with K (M, age 6 months):

• We needed to get permission from both biological parents. I texted them and they both agreed he could go. I forwarded screenshots of the texts to the social worker.
• We brought our custody and emergency letters.
• We gave the social worker all of the information: travel times, itinerary, who we’d be with, etc.
• How long we were gone: about a week!
• Travel: road trip!
• send pictures
• Consider/reschedule weekly visits – missed
• Still did weekly facetime call with mom.
• Things we did: Ocean City Board Walk, Playland’s Cast Away Cove, Swim at Gigi and PawPaw’s House

Wedding in P.A. with K (M, age 10 months)

• We needed to get permission from both biological parents. I texted them and they both agreed he could go. I forwarded screenshots of the texts to the social worker.
• We brought our custody and emergency letters.
• We gave the social worker all of the information: travel times, itinerary, who we’d be with, etc.
• How long we were gone: 3 days!
• Travel: road trip!
• send pictures
• Things we did: Sleepover at family home, attend wedding and after party, night at hotel

Vacation to F.L. with K (M, age 1)

• We needed to get permission from both biological parents. I texted them and they both agreed he could go. I forwarded screenshots of the texts to the social worker.
• We brought our custody and emergency letters.
• We gave the social worker all of the information: travel times, itinerary, who we’d be with, etc.
• How long we were gone: about a week!
• Travel: plane!
• send pictures
• Consider/reschedule weekly visits – missed
• Still did weekly facetime call with mom.
• How long we were gone: about a week!
• Things we did: Universal Studios, City Walk, Seaworld, Sesame Street Land, Disney Springs