The holiday season is approaching and it’s an exciting time of year. Nonetheless, it can also be a challenging period, particularly for those who have recently divorced.
As co-parents, you’re going to have to adjust and implement strategies that are in the best interests of your children. Outlined below are a few things to consider.
How will time with the kids be split?
There are a number of options open to co-parents in terms of splitting holiday time with the kids. These can be incorporated into custody agreements provided they meet the best interests of the child standard.
Some parents prefer to alternate years, which generally means one parent having the kids on Christmas day and the other parent taking their turn the following year. Other parents implement an equal-time strategy for Christmas day. For example, one parent has the children for Christmas morning while the other parent takes the afternoon.
In cases where co-parents get along well, it may even be possible to continue having joint Christmases together as a family.
Who buys the gifts?
A collaborative approach to gift buying during the holidays can be beneficial for the children. Parents may pitch in together to buy joint presents. Or, they may agree on a fair amount to spend between them.
The holidays should not be used as a competition to try and spend more on the kids. This can cause tension between co-parents and leave the kids feeling like they are caught in the middle.
Divorce can be tricky but it’s perfectly possible for children to thrive in new environments. Seek legal guidance to help you draft custody solutions that protect your interests.
