The Holidays Can Lead to Hitches in Your Parenting Plan
The holidays are full of wonder and cheer – and plenty of stress. While the parenting plan you obtained with your divorce almost certainly addresses the holidays, there are plenty of topics that it is unlikely to touch on. This year, we also have an additional layer of concern created by the global pandemic. As the holidays approach, doing a bit of preplanning or negotiating with your ex now may help save you from additional frustrations in the long run.
Giving Some Thought to Gifts
Your children now have two family Christmases, and this often means twice the number of gifts, which can actually stress children out and numb the magical effect of holiday gift-giving. Further, if you are the primary custodial parent, but your ex has more significant financial resources, it can be challenging to keep up. Spending some time negotiating limits or parameters for your gifts this year can help. Consider the following:
Discuss your gift list with your ex – you do not want to double up on purchases.
Discuss how significant purchases will be handled. For instance, do your children need expensive gaming consoles and computers at both homes, or can they be transported back and forth?
Discuss overall cost limitations if you think it is an issue that needs to be addressed. If your ex showers your shared children with expensive gifts that you believe are too extravagant during the holidays, discussing the matter may help you find a middle ground that you are both comfortable with.
Scheduling Special Events
The holidays are generally replete with special events, dinners, concerts, ballets, and parties, but this year, such events have been put on hold. This is why that special socially distanced visit to your parents this year is likely to be more important than ever. Additionally, there are more drive-through lighting events this year than perhaps ever before to help your family keep your holiday spirits high. If you have a carefully planned visit or event that you would like to plan out, talk to your ex about it earlier rather than later. Having this talk in the spirit of compromise (in which you are also willing to help make his or her memorable holiday plans a reality) can help.
Holiday Traditions
Your holiday schedule is almost sure to be light this year. The upside to this is that it provides you with the opportunity to engage in some old-fashioned, home-based holiday traditions that may have fallen by the wayside in years past. Things like baking and decorating cookies, having movie nights, and making a gingerbread house can all go a long way toward making your children’s holidays merry and bright.
An Experienced Killeen Family Law Attorney Can Help
If you are facing a divorce or another family law concern this holiday season, Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney with impressive experience helping clients like you find favorable resolutions. We are here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 254-501-4040 for more information today.