Tips for Healthy Holiday Co-Parenting

Successful co-parenting can be a challenge, but it’s a rewarding challenge that puts your children’s best interests first and makes it worth the effort. Perhaps the only thing more difficult than smooth co-parenting on a day-to-day basis is co-parenting through the hectic holiday season. Fortunately, there are tips that can help you handle the holidays with style. 

Plan Ahead

If you only do one thing to help make your co-parenting healthier over the holidays, make it planning ahead. The season seems to sneak up on us every year, and once it’s in full swing, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room to negotiate plans. The thing about the holidays is that you and your ex are going to face your own competing parties, events, and activities, and attempting to dovetail them with one another can be next to impossible. The best approach is to set your holiday priorities – whatever they may be – and share your tentative schedule with your children’s other parent as soon as you flesh it out. This increases the chances that you’ll both have the opportunity to maximize your holidays with the kids.

Be Flexible

While you have designated parenting time that spells out when the kids are with you and when they are with your ex, the holidays can do a number on even the most careful plans. Adopting a more flexible stance over the holidays can go a long way toward helping you maintain your composure and helping you enjoy this special time of year with your children – and it may inspire your ex to be more flexible with you if a scheduling snafu arises. 

Focus On Communication

Perhaps you and your ex have no trouble picking up the phone and hashing things out or chatting with one another during drop-offs and pickups, or maybe things are a bit less friendly. Whatever your situation, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open during the holidays, and toward this end, keep the following in mind:

• If you and your ex are on good terms, it’s still important to cement your holiday plans in writing – just to make sure nothing gets lost in translation. 
• If you and your ex like to keep things strictly in writing, your texts, messages, and emails can serve you well while navigating the holidays.
• Don’t forget to share information about your children’s holiday pageants, concerts, dances, and other activities. It’s easy for these dates to get lost in the mix, and your kids would be disappointed if their other parent didn’t make it.
• Don’t put your kids in the middle. Keep communications solely between you and your ex.

Remember that the holidays are all about enjoying time with your loved ones, so don’t forget to relax and have a nice time whenever possible.

Discuss Your Concerns With An Experienced California Divorce Attorney Today

The capable California divorce attorneys at Miranda, Magden & Miranda, LLP, proudly serving Monterey and Salinas – have the compassion and insight to help you tackle your most challenging parenting time concerns. Reach out for more information by contacting us today.