Holiday Cheer or Court?
The Holidays Are Coming!
Will You Have Holiday Cheer or Holiday Court?
The leaves are turning, football is on the television, and pumpkin spice is everywhere! Yes, Fall is here! While it may seem like the holidays are still “several months away,” they will be here soon and now is the time to plan for them. Getting ready now for the holidays will help you to stay out of Court.
Here are three ways to have holiday cheer and not holiday Court this year:
Preparation. If you don’t already have a Parenting Plan and Agreement, then start by looking at the children’s school calendar to chart out the non-school days / holiday breaks. Be sure to confirm with school to make sure you have the updated school calendar. Separately, if your child is involved in sports / extra-curricular activities, then make sure to check those schedules as well since they don’t always “take a break” during the holidays! Once you have outlined the school and activity schedule, then work with your co-parent, mediator, or lawyer to get the schedule agreed upon and memorialized in writing. If you have a Parenting Plan and Agreement, review it now to make sure that you have a clear understanding of the upcoming holiday schedule and any notice requirements for holiday travel plans. If you are unclear about the upcoming holiday schedule, then now is the time to connect with your co-parent about any questions or concerns. Now is also the time to make financial preparations for the holiday season. Yes, it’s never too early to start figuring out the budget for holiday menu or gifts - especially if you are going through a divorce or have to coordinate child related expenses with a co-parent.
Communication. Communication is the key to getting to a resolution and limiting holiday co-parenting stress. Yes, now is the time to send the email or text message regarding holiday parenting schedule and financial expectations. If the conversation isn’t started, then there is a greater chance of miscommunication, confusion, frustration and increased legal fees to address the issue. Whether you communicate via email, text, or a co-Parenting App, it’s best to have a written record of any agreements reached for future reference.
Mediation. Mediation is a great way to resolve holiday parenting schedules, travel notification issues, child-related gift and special occasion expenses, religious service, or participation issues, or setting a spending budget. The mediation process allows the parties to problem solve issues to come to a resolution that works best for the parties and not decided by the Court. For parties and their lawyers, the holiday season is often replete with panic-stricken emails and voicemails about travel plans, schedule changes, or financial concerns. Now is the opportune time to work with a Mediator to resolve holiday matters instead of being faced with an “Emergency” Court filing! That way the holiday season will truly be the “most wonderful time of the year” for everyone!
Wishing you and your family a lot of “holiday cheer” this year!
