The holidays can be great for spending time with family and friends. However, that may not always be the case for divorced parents. That’s because many ex-spouses tend to fight over who gets the kids on which days.
Courts can often get backed up during this time of year due to these circumstances. Luckily, there are other ways parents can split custody of their kids over the holiday season and make the best out of a complicated situation.
Spending quality time with the kids
While every family’s situation is unique, divorced couples should typically focus on what works best for the child to make it easier on them:
- Establish time plans: By creating a plan and establishing it in writing, ex-spouses can make the agreement as broad or specific as they want. This can help satisfy the desires of both parties and give them equal time with their children.
- Celebrate on alternate days: If both parents want to celebrate Thanksgiving with their children, they don’t have to do it on the same day. For example, one parent could host a Thanksgiving meal for their kids the weekend before or after the holiday.
- Switch off years: The courts often suggest this method. For example, one parent gets the kids over Thanksgiving every odd-numbered year and the other parent gets them on Christmas every even-numbered year. However, this option may be difficult for some, as they may not like the idea of not spending every holiday with their kids.
Reaching an agreement can be difficult
During seasonal celebrations, tit-for-tat arguments and conflict with an ex-spouse can be commonplace. But when figuring out who gets the kids during which holidays, the children’s best interests should always be kept in mind. Those looking to establish a holiday custody agreement may want to reach out to a knowledgeable and supportive family law attorney. They can often assist separated couples develop a parenting plan that works for both of them.