Christmas is nearly upon us, with good cheer, eating mountains of food and spending time with relations expected of us all.
Most separated parents will have already organised the arrangements for the Christmas holiday period and will be looking forward to the festivities. For some separated parents however, the arrangements are still being discussed and perhaps, an agreement feels a long way off.
Christmas is one of the most difficult times of the year for separated parents. Here are our tips for sorting out the arrangements:
- If you’re not seeing your child on the big day, think about how and when you will celebrate instead. Can you have a second ‘Christmas Day’ before or after December 25? Most children are thrilled to have two ‘Christmas Days’.
- How the days’ work for the children will depend on where the parents live. Parents who live near to each other are likely to divide Christmas Day in half. Or they could divide up the days around it with a couple of days with each parent. Parents who live far apart, are more likely to have to divide the children’s time in longer blocks.
- Can the parent who does not see the children on Christmas Day, spend New Year with them instead?
Always try and think about the arrangements from the children’s perspective – what works best for them?
Don’t forget to get in touch if you need to discuss your situation and find out more about how we can help.