Any parent who has children in school knows that there are challenges that come when schools take breaks. One of the longest breaks, besides summer, is the winter holiday break. While every parent should plan in advance for the winter break, the situation becomes much more critical for parents who are no longer together.
One of the first things that you should do if you’re in this position is to review the parenting time schedule to determine when you’re going to have the children with you. This gives you a chance to determine if you’re going to need to find childcare for the children and to secure it before childcare providers become booked. It also gives you a chance to determine when you’re going to have the children, so you know what plans you can make with them.
Keep the focus on the children
There may be times when you and your ex both want to have the children at the same time to do an activity. It’s important to think about what’s best for the children when this occurs.
For example, if one parent has out-of-town family members coming, the children may need to spend time with those family members instead of doing something else. If you and your ex can set aside personal differences to focus on the children, they can benefit from the stability that you provide.
Trying to get the holiday season plans set well in advance is often the best approach because this avoids last-minute stress. It also gives you time to seek assistance if there are key points that can’t be arranged between you and your ex.
