Although it is not yet the end of October, there are already indications that Christmas is coming, as many retailers, workplaces and events companies are beginning to gear up for the festive season.
These signs should signal to separated parents that if they haven’t yet discussed child arrangements for the Christmas period, now is the time to do it.
It can be extremely stressful to agree on your children’s holiday contact arrangements with an ex-partner, but the following tips should help.
- Start early.
You might think that October is too early to decide on child contact at Christmas. However, it is never too soon to start discussions about child contact arrangements.
Thinking ahead and working out what is going to happen during the holidays in good time can increase the chances of reaching an agreement with your ex and avoid the stress of any last-minute panic.
- Put your children first.
Residual feelings from your relationship can sometimes get in the way of discussions with an ex-partner and it is difficult to focus on the matter at hand. However, remembering that your children’s wellbeing comes first and that you both have their best interests at heart can help keep conversations on track.
- Get help if you need it.
Reaching an agreement with an ex-partner over arrangements for your children can be hard. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone.
Various specialist services exist to support separated parents. Mediation is particularly useful in family disputes and an experienced mediator can help separated parents manage child contact arrangements, including agreeing on holiday plans.
- Be flexible.
Christmas is a busy time of the year and many of us have more social engagements, obligations and events to factor in that might disrupt our usual routine. It can help to be transparent about any additional commitments you may have and to be understanding if your ex-partner has some too.
- Write it down.
Once you have agreed on your child contact arrangements over Christmas, you should write down what you have decided. This ensures everyone knows what is happening and there is no confusion about who is doing what.
Family Lawyers Near Me
Our experienced team of family solicitors at Berlad Graham advise on all legal matters regarding your children and are committed to delivering excellent standards of service in an empathetic and caring way.
If you have a query about child arrangement matters over Christmas, or any other aspect of family law, please get in touch. You can call our team on 0330 175 5655 or enquire online.
