Child custody, the holidays and divorce

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, many of our Maryland readers have made it through one family holiday and are looking forward to the next. Although most people enjoy this time of the year for all of the get-togethers with family and friends and spending time catching up on the events of the last year, it can also be a stressful time for some – none more so than newly-divorced parents coming to terms with the child custody arrangements for the holidays.

A recent article noted that many divorced parents have this anxiety during the holiday season, and the article put forward a few suggestions. The most important tip was for parents to review the agreements they reached in the divorce process for how the children would spend the holidays: where and with which parent. But, in case there was no initial agreement and it was left to the parties to decide, a common theme that would be familiar with our readers who have seen previous posts here was discussed – cooperation. Even if the divorced couple isn’t all that amicable, trying to come up with a reasonable and satisfactory plan – and doing so as early as possible – is a good idea.

But, as the article noted, the child custody concerns at this time of the year aren’t necessarily all about the parents. The children will need to get involved at some point, and it can be beneficial to make sure that that the children know exactly what to expect.

Even though the holidays can be great for spending time with family and friends, the stress involved for divorced parents can make this time of year tough. By attempting to address the possible issues that could pop up as early as possible, the holidays could be more pleasant for everyone.

Source: The Mercury, “Child custody and the holidays: Do’s and Don’ts,” Andrew D. Taylor, Nov. 27, 2013