How Can Parents Fairly Divide Holiday Time With Their Children?

The holiday season is a time to celebrate and see your loved ones. However, if you’re co-parenting, it can be difficult to keep up with the shopping, events, and traditions that are going on between both parents and their families. Having to split the time adds even more stress on both sides, especially with each parent wanting to spend as much time with their children as they can. Continue reading to learn more on how parents can fairly divide holiday time with their children.

Check Your Holiday Custody Schedule

When you were creating the child custody agreement, you may have set up a holiday schedule that outlines who has custody and when each parent has parenting time with their child. Having holidays scheduled already in your custody agreement makes it much easier, since everything is already laid out for you. However, if you set your custody agreement years ago, it may not work as well anymore. Both you and your co-parent could revise the custody agreement as needed for holidays.

If you do not have a holiday schedule, it’s time for you and your co-parent to set one. Make sure you take into account any school breaks if your children are old enough to be in school. You two can discuss family traditions on each of your sides and decide what works best for the two of you and your children. Remember, custody is all about give and take so you will both have to make compromises for what you want.

There are several different options for how to co-parent on holidays:

-       Alternating holidays: You can have the children one holiday during the year while your co-parent has another and the next year, you two will swap.

-       Fixed holidays: If you and your co-parent find different holidays more important or celebrate different holidays, you can set up a fixed schedule where you have those holidays every year.

-       Split holidays: If you and your co-parent live close enough, you can split the actual holiday down the middle.

-       Double holidays: You can keep the custody agreement the same but celebrate the holiday on a day within your current custody agreement.

On the holidays that you don’t have your children, it can be really difficult. You want to spend these special days with your children. However, it’s important to accept that your holidays have changed, especially if it's the first holiday that you are separated from your child. While this change can be sad, this also gives you an opportunity to create new memories and traditions with your children.

If you need legal assistance with child custody matters or any family law matters, our attorneys at the BWS Firm are ready to help. Our attorneys practice family law with compassion in mind to give you the best legal advice and support through these difficult personal matters, especially during the holiday season. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at info@BWSfirm.com.

Sources:

https://www.russellhlaw.com/blog/2019/november/child-custody-how-to-divide-time-during-the-holi/

https://www.familylawlegalgroup.com/best-split-custody-for-holidays/

https://www.attorneygoad.com/blog/2021/08/how-can-you-fairly-divide-holidays-with-your-kids/

https://www.custodyxchange.com/topics/holidays/christmas-season.php

https://www.brighterdaylaw.com/blog/tips-for-co-parenting-during-the-holidays/