The winter holiday season is closing in quickly, so it’s critical for parents to determine how they’re going to handle this special time of year. Regardless of which holidays parents and children observe, having a plan ahead of time can make the situation easier for everyone.
One of the first things that you should do is grab a copy of the parenting plan so you can review it to see what terms are set for the winter holidays.
Know the parenting time schedule
The holiday parenting time schedule is one of the most important things to know. This lets you know when the children will be with you and when they will be with your ex. Once you know when you’ll have them, you can set up childcare options if you need those. You can also start to make plans for things you want to do with them.
Coordinate plans
If possible, you and your ex should coordinate plans. There may be days when the children are scheduled to be with one parent, but something is going on with the other parent that the children may want to attend. Being able to cooperate and compromise on these dates may make things a bit easier.
Discuss gifts
If gifting is a part of your holiday tradition, you and your ex should discuss this to avoid the child having duplicate gifts. Remember, gifts are the child’s, so the child should be able to enjoy these at both homes. Of course, there may be some exceptions to this, so it’s critical to set the expectations as early as possible.
The terms in the parenting plan are the backbone of everything related to the children. Having this all set in a way that reflects their best interests is important, so it may be beneficial to work with someone familiar with these matters.