How to Co-Parent Through the Holiday Season
Working together to co-parent during the holidays requires planning, reliability, and flexibility. Starting early to draw up intricate itineraries that work for all family members is crucial. Coming through for one another and for your kids is essential. Being able to bounce amiably through schedule changes is key. Family communication can help holiday ideas flow and plans come together. Make sure that communication lines are open between you and your co-parent. Also, prioritize supportive communication between parents and children. Creating family cohesion and engagement can lead to great holiday moments.
Active Communication Between Co-Parents
In general, communication is extremely important when co-parenting. Making holiday arrangements as co-parents is much easier with clear and plentiful communication. Taking the time to communicate about holiday logistics can, for instance, help avoid potential conflicts. One area of possible conflict is time management. Modern Family Law suggests: “Don’t wait until the last minute to begin making holiday scheduling plans.” Planning early can be helpful when several schedules are involved.
Each parent may have scheduling scenarios that need to be negotiated. Each child may have multiple activities to schedule. There may also be things to do in preparation for holiday events. Planning early can help alleviate scheduling concerns. You can take the needs of all family members into account. Early planning can also provide extra planning time to allow for flexibility. Plans may need to be adjusted. Modern Family Law advises: “The holidays can be unpredictable, so be prepared for last-minute changes.”
As the planning process progresses, communication between co-parents is essential. Communication allows parents to work together to create great holiday experiences for kids. Additionally, it allows parents to discuss the topic of holiday gifts. Multiple misunderstandings can occur around gift giving. Co-parents may become unproductively competitive with one another in terms of procuring epic gifts. They may also inadvertently buy the same gift for a child. Kids in the Middle states: “It is a good idea to coordinate with your co-parent.” That way, children receive gifts, and co-parents can proceed with good cheer.
Including Children’s Input About Plans for the Holidays
Children can be included in gift-giving fun. Children First Family Law suggests: “Help children buy or make gifts for the other parent.” This activity can be an engaging way to promote family cohesion. Additionally, this can be a way to highlight the joy found in giving presents. Children can carry this joy with them as they live their lives. Kids in the Middle emphasizes: “The holidays are more about giving than getting.”
Children can also be part of the overall holiday planning process. They can, for instance, help invent new activities that can become family traditions. Including your children in the planning process can help them feel invested. Be sure to also talk with children about any unexpected necessity to change plans.
Ensure that children continue to feel involved and included. Modern Family Law recommends: “Communicate with your children what the new plans are.” Stay supportive throughout the twists and turns of holiday planning. Allow space for any emotions that children may feel as they adjust to unforeseen planning developments.
Holiday Strategies to Co-Parent Productively
The holidays are opportunities to reconnect with people in your life. They are also a time for family fun. However, all of the wonderful holiday family moments do not happen without effort. Working together as parents can ensure that kids have great memories to look back on. A key to epic parental teamwork during this time is communication. Well in advance, begin discussing holiday plans. Throughout planning, check in to adjust itineraries as schedules change. Involve your children in the process. They will have fun brainstorming and feel happily included.
