Parents who share physical custody or parenting time are often subject to a specific schedule. They either negotiate their own arrangements breaking down the overall division of parenting time or work to establish arrangements with the help of a judge.
The baseline arrangement for shared custody is helpful on a day-to-day basis. However, special events can easily complicate a shared custody arrangement. Holidays, birthdays and similar special events may lead to both parents wanting time with the children.
How do parents arrange to fairly split holidays and other special days?
There are many strategies to consider
Parents who come from different cultures or observe different religions may want to spend different holidays with their children. In such cases, each parent might have the same culturally relevant holidays with the children every year.
When parents celebrate the same holidays, there are several scheduling solutions available. Alternating holiday schedules allow the children to spend every other holiday with their parents. This arrangement allows the parents to bond with the children and to celebrate each holiday every other year.
Sometimes, parents may agree to split the holidays, especially if they live close to one another. The children spend part of the day with one parent and then the remainder of the day with the other.
In cases involving an amicable divorce, it may be possible for parents to share custody on special days. They might have one birthday party or holiday celebration that everyone attends together.
Working out an appropriate holiday child custody schedule can be challenging for parents. People who understand the different solutions available can minimize conflict as they try to set reasonable co-parenting terms.