The holiday season is a time to celebrate with your loved ones. It’s when you get to create beautiful memories, reminisce about shared experiences, and reconnect with one another. When you’re a parent, this time of year has its own special magic that you want to share with your children. The holidays are full of fun, joy, and a little stress, pulling everything together–and when you’re a separated or divorced parent, things can become more complicated.
Holiday Tension
The holidays and shared custody can spark tension and animosity between parents. Each parent wants to share the joy of the season with their child. They want to make sure that their child experiences all of the magic and festivities– and scheduling custody around this time can dampen all of your plans.
Scheduling visitation can be a contentious process, especially when the holidays roll around. It’s easy to let emotions run rampant in these instances. Which parent will the child be spending the most time with during the holidays? How will you coordinate drop-offs? Is it possible to split the time evenly? All of these decisions and more come into play.
Things can change in an instant. Children’s needs evolve as they grow up. A parent’s job situation can change. There are times when the previously agreed upon order doesn’t line up with everything happening in your life. Learning to compromise and communicate can help make a world of difference when dealing with child custody schedules.
Coordinating Child Custody During the Holidays
To avoid conflict during the holidays it’s important to keep these tips in mind when working out a holiday schedule with your ex:
- Create a Holiday Blueprint – When trying to negotiate your holidays visitation schedule, it’s a good idea to know what your plans will be. Be open about the times you’ll get started and end.
- Compromise – It can be tough to split things evenly between you and your ex, especially surrounding the holidays. Consider celebrating the holiday a little early one year so the next you can have your child the day of. Being flexible can make things easier for everyone.
- Communication Is Key – It may not always be easy to talk to your ex, but being open and communicative can save everyone a lot of stress during the holidays. It’s also important to talk to and listen to your child. Let them know what they can expect during the holidays and how things will work.
- Make Sure Everyone Is On the Same Page – As the holidays approach, confirm your plans with your ex. Implementing a digital calendar can help with this immensely.
Holiday visitation schedules can be difficult to navigate, but try not to let that discourage you from enjoying the magic of the season with your child. Enjoy your time together and focus on the memories you will make.
For more information about holidays and shared custody, contact Simon Law Group, PLLC. We’re here to answer your questions and help you to determine your best options.
