Co-Parenting During the Holidays With COVID-19

In a divorce with children, judges make decisions based on the best interests of the children. As such, judges try to involve both the mother and father in the custody process. Children tend to spend their time during the holidays with both parents. Studies show that 50% of children from divorced families spend at least 25% of their time with each parent.

Co-parenting can be difficult during the holidays. This will be especially apparent this holiday season as we deal with COVID-19 restrictions. Some people take COVID-19 seriously, while others don’t.

This means that you’ll need to communicate with the other parent now more than never to prevent tricky situations and hurt feelings. Here are some ways to co-parent effectively during the COVID-stricken holidays.

Set Rules Now

How are you going to celebrate the holidays? Where will you be going and how many people will be there? Will masks and social distancing be observed? How much physical contact is acceptable? These are all things to think about and discuss with your children so there is no confusion later.

Create a Schedule

You and the other parent should start early to create a schedule you can both agree on. Who gets the kids on Christmas Eve and Christmas? What about before and after those dates? The schedule should include details such as where the kids will be and when. Share this with all family members so they are in the loop. Be sure to create this ahead of time so you can make changes as necessary. This will help things go more smoothly.

Make Some Tweaks

This year has been odd with the coronavirus, so it may be a good idea to consider different traditions. If you and the other parent are on good terms, perhaps you both can celebrate together. Consider outdoor activities, such as sledding or hiking. If you typically go to a relative’s house, stay home and watch movies instead. Bake cookies and other goodies. Go walk around the neighborhood and look at lights and displays.

Put the Kids First

Above all, make the holidays about the kids. Make sure they have fun but stay safe and healthy as well. Make sure they get enough rest and eat well. Keep them away from family members who are sick. Think about what they want to do and who they want to spend time with. Their feelings should come first, so make them a priority. Any tension you have with the other parent will need to take a backseat for now, as you want to keep stress levels low.

Contact a Maryland Family Law Attorney Today

Co-parenting is never easy during the holidays. Communication is key during this time, and this can be hard if tensions are high or there are disagreements about coronavirus restrictions.

The Columbia divorce lawyers at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. can help you handle child custody and parenting time issues. We understand how difficult these cases can be. Call (410) 774-5987 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/a32728744/co-parenting-coronavirus/