Holidays are stressful, especially for divorced/separated parents who are navigating a co-parenting relationship.

With the added pressure of trying to hold everything together for your children, anxiety can easily set in. Creating a holiday schedule that is specific to your family is sure to decrease stress for both you and your children.

The traditional holiday swap may not work for your family so you’ll want to speak to an experienced attorney to help create a customized schedule for you.

Attorney Andrea Schneider has created many unique arrangements because every family is different. Some parents don’t place much emphasis on certain holidays so the traditional swap may not work. Sometimes family traditions that may be important to one parent, are not important to the other parent at all. It may be nice if the kids get to participate with each side of the family for all of their special traditions.

Allowing your children to participate in family traditions on both sides helps them have a memorable, fun holiday experience.

Here are a few tips to help you co-parent through the upcoming holiday season:

1. You may have a lot of ideas about how you want the holiday season to look. Put your children’s needs first, always.

2. Communicate with your ex about your holiday plans. If both of you plan too many activities, your children will be exhausted. Focus on quality bonding time instead of trying to squeeze in every activity under the sun.

3. Do not underestimate your need for rest during the holidays. Between holiday shopping, work, and trying to plan winter activities, you may feel like you have little to no time to breathe. On the days when your children are not with you, do something for yourself, everyone needs time to recharge.

4. Let your children know that it is okay to feel sad about the divorce/separation and help them process their emotions, so they can enjoy the winter break/holidays. The holiday season does not have to be perfect for you and your family to enjoy them.

5. Reach out to a compassionate Family Law Attorney/mother who cares about you and your family.

If you’re experiencing any family law issues that may lead into the holiday season, turn to The Law Offices of Andrea Schneider for experienced and insightful guidance so you can create the best possible resolution for your family.

The aftermath of a divorce or separation is difficult and the stress of the holiday season often amplifies these problems, so do not hesitate to contact a skilled attorney for assistance.

Call our office at (619) 518-0476 to schedule your FREE consultation with Attorney Andrea Schneider and find out how she can help you create a holiday plan/child custody agreement that is very specific to the needs of your family.