Splitting up the holidays is just one more thing that you need to worry about when you get a divorce and split custody of your children. It can be easier to handle this if you make a definitive plan though. If you and your former spouse can work together to address each other’s concerns and make a holiday schedule that suits everyone’s needs, that can make the situation a lot easier to deal with. Our Dallas County child custody lawyers may be able to help you with that.
What Kinds of Holiday Schedule Can You Make?
You can approach the holiday schedule in a few ways. Most parents split up the holidays and decide on a fixed schedule or a rotating one. For example, one parent gets Christmas and the other gets Easter. On a fixed schedule, that’s the case every year. On a rotating schedule, they swap holidays each year.
If you live close to your ex, you might also be able to split some holidays. Your kids can spend some time with you and then some time with your ex.
What Should I Consider When Making a Holiday Schedule?
It’s not just your preferences that need to be considered here. When making a holiday schedule, you should also think about:
- The age of your kids
- The schedule of each of your kids
- Your work schedule
- Your ex’s work schedule
- You and your ex’s religious beliefs
- How close you and your ex live to each other
- Any special needs of your children
What Else Should Be Included in a Holiday Schedule?
It’s a good idea to consider other days when your or your ex would want to spend time with the kids. Birthdays are an obvious one. You and your ex can alternate each of your kids’ birthdays, or maybe you can just carve out some time for their noncustodial parent to visit and spend time with them. If you want the kids to spend time with you on your birthday, you can also put that in the schedule.
It can also be a good idea to consider things like family traditions, community events, and any vacations that tend to happen each year. Thinking about all of this stuff now can make it easier to make a complete holiday schedule and avoid strife later on.
Can I Change the Schedule Later?
Of course. Schedules change, especially as the kids get older and have more obligations and activities of their own to think about. If you think that some recent life changes have made it necessary to modify your holiday schedule, talk to your ex. Our lawyers can help you make any proposed changes official.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you are struggling to negotiate a fair holiday schedule with your ex, contact Iowa Defenders, PLLC. We can help you stand up for yourself and find an agreeable solution, one that works for you, your ex, and, most importantly, your kids.
