Navigating through regular life is difficult for co-parents, but things seem to get a bit more complicated during the holiday season. The change in school schedules and all the extra activities seem to make it more difficult to come to an agreement about everything.
There are several ways co-parents can improve the holiday season for their children. The most important is to keep the focus on the children. Holidays should always be a time of enjoyment and positive memory-making, and this is more likely when co-parents work as a team.
1. Remain flexible with each other
You must remain as flexible as possible when you’re making plans for the upcoming holiday season. This might not always be easy but the children will be able to enjoy activities and make memories with both sides of their family if their parents are able to work as a team regarding the scheduling. Both parents should try to nail down any schedule requests or changes to the usual holiday schedule as soon as possible — and be willing to work with the other parent so that both can have their needs and goals met.
2. Communicate with your co-parent
Communication is a critical skill for co-parents. All communication must center around the children. It should be respectful and handled at an appropriate time. When discussing holiday plans, remember to always consider what’s best for the children. Co-parents can discuss various topics for the holidays, including who will get what gifts and how those will be handled once they’re given.
Ideally, your parenting plan will include information about where the children will spend each holiday. Even in that case, it might be necessary to modify the agreement. Taking the time to get everything sorted well in advance of the holiday season can help everyone feel more comfortable and less stressed so they can enjoy the season.
