If this is your first Thanksgiving since your divorce, you are probably wondering how to create a fair parenting plan. Your children may want to spend time with both sides of the family. Given that this is the beginning of the holiday season, you could make sure that you are creating a plan that is fair and takes the best interest of the children into consideration.
Common Ways that Families Divide and Share Parenting Time
- Alternate holidays on odd and even years. For example, one parent might have the children for Thanksgiving on odd years and Christmas on even years, while the other parent would have the children for Thanksgiving on even years and Christmas on odd years.
- If location is not much of an issue, you might consider splitting the holidays down the middle. Many families do this already since there are often several stops to make to visit family during the holidays. The child can spend the first part of a holiday with one parent and the second half with another. However, make sure you plan ahead to make this transition smooth – you don’t want the kids to be stuck in a car all day.
- What’s better than having one Thanksgiving? Having two! You don’t have to celebrate the holiday on the day that it falls on a calendar. Your children can spend Thanksgiving with one parent on the day of, and with the other parent on the day after.
- Assign fixed holidays. For some families, it makes more sense to have holidays work the same way every year. Some parents may have different holidays that are important to them.
The Law Offices of Thomas Nicholas Cvietkovich is always prepared to answer your questions about divorce, child custody, child support, and other family law topics. Call our San Jose family law office at (408) 844-4016 or contact us online for more information.
Follow our Facebook page for updates on future blogs concerning family law!