Although it’s not yet Halloween, it’s not too early to begin planning your holiday custody schedules with your child(ren)’s co-parent. Divorced couples often dread the winter holidays because the changes throw a monkey wrench into their own planned events
But holiday custody schedules don’t have to be negative events. Read on to learn ways to make the upcoming holidays flow smoother so your kids have only pleasant memories of their childhood experiences.
Learn how to communicate
You may dread conversations with your ex, but you can email, text or use specially designed apps for co-parents to communicate their children’s needs. Just remember to keep the information you share limited to what’s best for your children.
Be willing to compromise
It can be quite lonely spending the holidays without your children surrounding you. But sometimes, it is kinder to bite the bullet and agree to let them spend the big day with your ex when their extended family is in town. The memories your kids make now with seldom-seen grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins form the links they will share later in life with these relatives.
Plan now to avoid surprises
If you would like to take the kids to Disney World over the winter holidays, broach that subject now with your co-parent. That way, if there is a problem, you’ll have time to iron it out before you buy plane tickets.
Include holiday custody scheduling in your parenting plan
Work out a reasonable arrangement with your ex wherein both parents spend quality time together with their offspring. Some families choose to alternate holidays, while others split the holidays between them. Just make sure that your child doesn’t spend the bulk of the holiday traveling from point “A” to point “B.”
Family law courts will typically sign off on reasonable agreements between the parents, as long as the children’s needs are always foremost in the scheduling decisions.