Family law organisation Resolution has recently highlighted the additional stress that the summer holiday period can place on a couple’s relationship. In some cases, this increased tension can bring a relationship to breaking point.

According to Resolution, juggling work and childcare, or having to find the money to pay for a holiday, can cause conflict to escalate to such an extent that around 20% of parents are contemplating divorce or separation by the end of the school holidays .

Angela Lake-Carroll, Resolution member and family mediator explains that in many cases, parents build up unrealistic expectations for summer holidays, which aren’t then matched by the reality of spending long periods of time with their partner and children. These issues can become magnified if the relationship is already experiencing difficulties.

“For those that need to work over the summer, escalating childcare costs can lead to frayed finances and tempers – it’s been estimated that summer holidays cost UK parents up to £8.6 billion every year on childcare and children’s entertainment,” she said.

“This can lead to a ‘perfect storm’ for some couples, leading to some people making the decision to separate,” she added.

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