How to Share Parenting Time During the Holidays

After divorcing with children, the holidays can be tough for parents when trying to figure out equal parenting time. Both may want to see the children on the same days, so who gets priority? How do you negotiate and compromise?

Child custody and visitation can be issues in a divorce. It’s possible both parents can spend time with their children – if it’s in the best interest of the children and it’s part of your parenting agreement. However, trying to figure out a schedule both parties can agree on can make things even more stressful. Here are some options for sharing parenting time during the holidays.

Parenting Time Options to Consider

When considering your parenting agreement regarding holidays, here are some common options to consider for sharing parenting time over the holidays.

• Alternate every other year. In this situation, one parent would have the children for all holidays one year; the other parent would get the children the following year. Then alternate every year after. To make it easier – one parent gets the children on even years, the other on odd years. 
• Assign fixed holidays. If you think Christmas is important, but hate Thanksgiving, allow the other parent to have the children for Thanksgiving and you take Christmas.  That way, each parent gets one holiday every year.
• Split the holiday in half. This only works if both parents live nearby. If you both want to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with the kids every year, then you have the option of splitting the day in half. One parent gets the kids in the morning, the other in the late afternoon/evening. Just make sure the kids aren’t spending too much time traveling. 
• Schedule a holiday twice. Instead of splitting the holiday, schedule it twice. For Thanksgiving, for example, you can have the kids on Thanksgiving and the other parent can have the kids the previous day or the next day. The same applies to Christmas. One parent can have the kids on Christmas Eve, while the other can take the kids on Christmas day.

Other Holidays to Consider

While Thanksgiving and Christmas are the most major holidays, you and the other parent may want to have visitation on other holidays during the year, such as:

• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• July 4th
• Three-day weekends
• Labor Day
• Memorial Day
• Columbus Day
• President’s Day
• Halloween
• Easter

You can treat these holidays the same way. Your parenting agreement can indicate whether you can split them or allow a specific parent to have the kids for one three-day weekend, while you get the next one. 

Contact a Divorce Lawyer in Frederick, Maryland

The holidays are stressful enough, but a parenting time agreement puts in writing how parents should spend their time with their children finding the option that’s in the best interest of their children. Need help with scheduling parenting time?  The divorce lawyer in Frederick, Maryland at the Law Offices of Sandra Guzman-Salvado can help you understand your options for child custody and visitation during the holidays. Initial consultations are free and have no obligation. Call (301) 340-1911 to schedule a consultation with a divorce attorney at the Law Offices of Sandra Guzman-Salvado today.