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‘Tis the Season – Navigating Holidays with Your Ex-Spouse

Navigating the holidays with your ex-spouse

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    Co-parenting with your ex-spouse can be challenging, especially during the holidays. The following tips will set you up for success in making the holiday parenting schedules go smoothly.

    Review Your Parenting Plan

    Start planning early. Review your parenting plan to make sure you understand the exact parenting time you have with your children over the holidays. Do not assume that if you and your co-parent deviated from the plan last year that it will be the same this year.

    Communicate your plans to the other parent and notify them of any upcoming plans with friends or family that will affect the care of your parenting plan. Inevitably emergencies will come up, but planning vacations and celebrations in advance with lots of communication is best for everyone involved.

    Communicate with the Other Parent

    The key to navigating the holidays with your ex-spouse when sharing time with the other parent is to communicate effectively. Your parenting plan should provide for a communication protocol. If the communication protocol is not working in your parenting plan, there are applications that can assist in communication. OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents are two apps that can help you and your ex-spouse communicate. You do not have to be best friends with your ex, but you should keep each other in the loop when it comes to holiday planning and gift giving.

    Agree on Gift Giving Guidelines

    Parents may not agree on what kinds of gifts are appropriate for their children. Parents may also not be at the same level financially. It may be helpful to discuss gift ideas and price limitations ahead of time to better manage expectations. If both parents are on the same page, children may be less likely to take sides when it comes to the divorce.

    Respect and Adhere to Any Agreed-Upon Parenting Plan

    Some parents try to keep their children for more time or constantly switch weekends at the last minute with the other parent. Do your best to respect the parenting plan holiday schedule.

    Many parents want to spend as much time as possible with their children during the holidays. That makes coming up with a visitation plan especially difficult. Kalamaya | Goscha can help you come up with a plan that is fair and in the best interest of your children.

    To make sure you get to spend quality time with your children, especially during the holiday season contact Kalamaya | Goscha.  Kalamaya | Goscha is a Colorado law firm founded by Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha. The boutique mountain law practice specializes in divorce, child custody, and family law. Kalamaya | Goscha has law offices in Edwards, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Denver & Boulder. To speak to an attorney call (970) 315-2365.