You and your former spouse decided it was best for everyone if you separated. Fortunately, you agreed that it was in the best interests of the children to both be actively involved in their upbringing. A custody arrangement has been put in place and it’s been working so far.
We’re now only a matter of days away from Christmas, and the holiday season can present challenges even for co-parents who get along. Outlined below are tips that can help you both this year and in the years that follow.
Plan ahead
If there’s one thing that children need in their life, it’s stability. This will also be beneficial for you and your co-parent. Planning your holiday schedule is one of the most useful things you can do. This saves any unexpected surprises for the kids. Ideally, you and your co-parent should have included provisions about the holidays in your custody schedule. If you haven’t, then you can always ask the permission of the family court to make some modifications – at least for future years.
What works best practically?
No two human relationships are exactly the same, and it’s important that you and your co-parent find something that works for you and the children. You might consider alternating who gets the kids on Christmas Day each year. For example, one parent might take Christmas Day while the other takes Christmas Eve, with this rotating every year. If you and your co-parent are still relatively close, then it might even be possible to have Christmas together.
You shouldn’t be prevented from seeing your children, particularly during the holiday season. If you need help asserting your parental rights, be sure to seek legal guidance.