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Getting ready for the schedule changes of the holidays

Getting ready for the schedule changes of the holidays

The winter holiday season is one that is difficult for all parents. For the parents who are divorced, the difficulties are compounded by the complexities of the child custody arrangement.

When you have a child custody agreement that has the holiday schedule spelled out, it might be a bit easier to make decisions about what you need to do. You can simply refer to the schedule and know who should have the children on what dates.

Without having a child custody order that gives you a plan for the holidays, it is up to you and your ex to decide who will have the children when. Hopefully, you and your ex can work together to come to an agreement about this so that the children can enjoy time with both families.

During the last two months of the year, you might find that it is much easier to just be flexible with the schedule. What worked for everyone last year might not work for them this year. The thing to remember here is that your child’s happiness and ability to make meaningful memories during this season are the goals.

On a more practical side, you need to think about what is going to happen during the winter break at school. For parents of older children, this might not cause any changes. For parents of younger children, you might need to arrange for a babysitter or find a family member to watch the kids while they are out of school.

It might seem pointless to try to make these plans now, but taking the time to do it can help you avoid the last minute rush. It also gives you and your ex time to negotiate matters.

Source: The Huffington Post, “Holiday Parenting Schedule: Make a List and Check It Twice,” Nicole H. Sodoma and Robin Goulet, accessed Nov. 03, 2017