For coparents after a divorce, the holidays can be an exciting time, but they also come with challenges. Notably, the holidays can throw off the standard custody schedule, so parents may need to work in advance to determine how they want to split child custody at this time.
There are many options to choose from. Exactly what is right for you and your family will depend on your situation, but it is important to know what types of alterations may be used. Below are three potential options.
Sharing the holidays
First and foremost, if you and your ex are on good terms, you may simply share the holidays. Just because you would normally have custody on that day does not necessarily mean your former spouse has to be excluded. Some parents will have joint holiday celebrations with the children.
Splitting the holiday
If you do not want to celebrate together, but you do live close to one another, a second option is to split the day in half. For example, if you already have custody, your child spends the holiday morning with you and then goes to your ex’s house to spend time with them over the afternoon.
Alternating years
For parents who want more exclusive time with just their child, alternating years may be a viable solution. Christmas and Thanksgiving are two of the major holidays, for example, so your child could spend Thanksgiving with you this year and Christmas with your ex. Next year, they could spend Thanksgiving with your ex and come to your house for Christmas.
Again, everyone’s situation is unique, but be sure you understand all of your options and the legal steps you will need to take whenever you alter custody schedules.
