Three Common Mistakes of Holiday Timesharing

The Holidays can be an exciting time of year with snowy weather, family gatherings, and of course presents, however; for timesharing parents, the Holidays can also add stress. While the Holidays can be a time for joy and celebrating, there are also possibilities for timesharing mistakes. Hopefully, this post can help you avoid some of them and stay holly jolly through the New Year!

Not Planning Ahead

The first and biggest mistake is not having a set timesharing plan for each. For example, Winter Break is generally two weeks long. Christmas and Christmas Eve may be the coveted time during the break, but co-parents can still make those holiday memories throughout the break. Talk to your co-parent ahead of time to plan out what chunks of time each parent has and how exchanges will occur. Extended time away from school is rare, but with proper planning, you and your co-parent can make the most of the time you have. Generally, your Parenting Plan or Settlement Agreement outlines a holiday schedule, make sure to consult yours when planning.

Pulling Children into Conflict

The last thing the children need is to be in the middle of an argument about where they will be for the Holidays. This time of year should be about making memories with loved ones, and while there might be a conflict between co-parents it will only dampen the time you have with your child if they are in the middle of a fight. As children become older, they will likely want some say in their Holiday schedule and you have the opportunity to model good behavior for them with your co-parent when they are young.

Completely Cutting Out Your Co-Parent

The third mistake is not allowing the other parent time during the Holidays. Every parent wants to create memories with their children and the Holidays are the perfect time to do so. Continuing Holiday or family traditions is a staple of family life and making sure each parent is able to spend at least some time with the children is important. For example, the parent that has the children on Christmas Day could agree to let the children be with the other parent on Christmas Eve so both parents can have that highly desired time with the children.

With the Holidays being one of the happiest times of the year, it is important for parents to focus on their children to make sure the Holidays are as fun and enjoyable as possible.

Please get in touch with our office if you have any questions about the timesharing plans and the Holidays.