The holiday season is one that’s special for many families. For those who are going through a divorce, it can be a challenging time, especially if they have children. The parenting time schedule should cover these holidays.
If this is your first holiday season since the marriage ended, you may have not yet finalized your parenting plan. Consider these points to help make the season easier for you and the children.
Be realistic about the scheduling
One thing that parents have to realize that the children need to come first. Think about the festivities schedule for your family and your ex’s family. If these aren’t on the same day or if they’re at different times, decide if the children can realistically do both.
Create new traditions
There’s a chance that one parent will miss out on a special event, such as waking up with the kids on Christmas morning. That parent can find other ways to celebrate with the children. Maybe Santa can leave them a special gift for when they return to that parent’s home.
Work as a team
Another idea is that both parents might be able to work together so they can both be with the children for those special events. This could turn those special days into ones that your child will think fondly of for a long time to come.
Parents who are going through a divorce might realize just how contentious the first holiday season can be. It’s best to get the schedule set as quickly as possible so that any disagreements can be addressed sufficiently. Even if you’ve had a parenting plan for a while, now is the best time to review the holiday schedule. Turning to the court might be necessary if you and your ex can’t agree on what’s supposed to happen for this holiday season.