Key Takeaways

• A detailed holiday parenting schedule can help ensure you avoid conflict with your co-parent.
• While the unexpected can arise at any time during the holiday season, it’s important to be flexible with your co-parent and willing to cooperate.
• Mediation can be a good option to create a holiday parenting schedule that will help avoid conflict and ensure the best interests of your child are met.

The holiday season should be a time for parents to create memories with their children and pass down family traditions. Although it should be a joyful time of year, it can also be stressful for parents who are divorced or separated. Navigating who gets the child on which holiday, juggling schedules, and the pressure to create the perfect holiday can all contribute to stress and conflict. However, there are several things you can do to help ensure the potential for disputes is reduced so you, your co-parent, and your child can have a healthy and happy holiday season.

Here are several tips on how to create a holiday parenting schedule that minimizes conflict:

Be As Detailed as Possible in Your Custody Agreement

It’s important to be as detailed as possible in your custody agreement when it comes to the holidays, while still allowing for flexibility. A well-drafted custody agreement should ensure predictability, take your family’s traditions into consideration, and avoid the need for resolving issues around the holidays. A holiday parenting schedule should include the following details, while still allowing for flexibility:

• The specific holidays the child will spend with each parent
• Dates and times for custody exchanges
• Rules for splitting holidays
• Transportation
• Communication methods for any changes

Parents may also consider using a co-parenting app to help ensure the details of the holiday schedule are outlined and misunderstandings are avoided. A co-parenting app typically has shared calendars, expense logs where you can list holiday gift purchases, and a place to document communication. These features can help you and your co-parent avoid any confusion about where the children are spending the holidays and ensure you are both on the same page when it comes to gift giving.

Start Planning Early

Waiting until the last minute to create a holiday parenting schedule is a common way conflict arises. If your custody agreement doesn’t specify the details of how each holiday should be spent, start planning early. Starting the conversation at least three months ahead of time can allow time for communication, negotiation, and smoothing out any details that need to be decided. Taking a proactive approach can show respect to your co-parent and help ensure a less contentious holiday season.

Be Flexible

Even if you have a holiday parenting plan in place, it’s crucial to be flexible. Family emergencies, illness, delayed flights, and inclement weather can all have an impact on a well thought out holiday schedule. In such cases, a few extra hours to your co-parent is a minor adjustment that can help preserve your co-parenting relationship moving forward. Give your co-parent the same courtesy you would expect in the event the unexpected arises. This can help prevent conflict and ensure the best interests of your child are met.

Be Open to Compromise with Your Co-Parent

Co-parents should be open to cooperation and compromise in order to avoid conflict around the holidays. You may consider alternating holidays each year with your co-parent or splitting the day in half if you live close enough. If you and your co-parent come from different religious or cultural backgrounds, you might each be assigned a fixed holiday. It’s essential to consider your child’s age and emotional needs when determining the best option.

Put the Best Interests of Your Child First and Foremost

Putting the best interests of your child first and foremost is paramount when creating a holiday parenting schedule. Be sure to think about what will make the holiday season enjoyable for your child to create a schedule that focuses on their wellbeing and happiness. While you and your co-parent will both want to spend as much time with your child as possible, consider the impact transitioning between households will have on them. It’s best to implement a schedule that will maximize the time they get to spend with each parent and minimize disruptions to their routine.

Use Mediation to Create a Holiday Parenting Schedule

If you and your co-parent cannot reach an agreement on a holiday parenting schedule, you may consider mediation. During the mediation process, a neutral third party (called a mediator) can help facilitate healthy communication and guide you and your co-parent toward a resolution. Mediation can provide an opportunity to discuss your concerns in a safe environment and allow you to find solutions that will work for your whole family, while ensuring your child’s best interests come first.

Contact an Experienced Georgia Family Law Attorney

When creating a holiday parenting schedule, a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney can help ensure your rights are protected and the best interests of your child are met. At NVP Family Law, we provide reliable representation to clients in Georgia for a wide range of family law matters, including those involving custody and parenting time. We welcome you to contact us for a consultation online or by calling 470-314-0253 to learn how we can help.