Post-divorce co-parenting during the holidays

Separated or divorced parents in Georgia tend to have more to deal with than most families do during the holidays. For one thing, there’s more potential for conflicts and confrontations due to increased back-and-forth travel between homes. School breaks can also be a source of contention if adjustments will need to be made with existing arrangements. One solution recommended for easing holiday stress for both parents and children is to get everyone on the same page with seasonal plans.

Adults living separately but still sharing parenting responsibilities are typically urged to keep the focus on the parent-child relationship during the holidays by putting aside personal feelings. This might require a need to seek emotional support from friends or a counselor. Taking this step sometimes helps parents make decisions about holiday plans that aren’t influenced by personal animosity. While certain family traditions are likely to change, the transition process may be easier if children are kept in the loop by knowing where they’ll be spending their time.

Coordination with pick-up and drop-off schedules also reduces the potential for conflict. Divorced parents may further make things easier for their children by encouraging them to enjoy their time with the other spouse while avoiding the temptation to directly compete. When children return home from visits, it can be more productive for a parent to allow them to naturally discuss experiences instead of peppering them with questions. Maintaining a supportive and nonjudgmental attitude may also help children avoid feeling like they have to choose sides.

By creating child custody and visitation arrangements with mutually agreeable terms and conditions during the divorce process, an attorney may be able to minimize the potential for conflict not just during the holidays but throughout the year. Should issues arise, a lawyer sometimes makes an initial effort to resolve problems with meditation or negotiation between parents. If this isn’t possible due to the nature of the issues involved or an unwillingness to compromise, a lawyer may help a client prepare a case for presentation to the appropriate court or state agency for intervention.