On a weekly basis, the child custody schedule that you set up during a divorce may be fairly consistent. For instance, perhaps you and your ex are going to share custody. You live relatively close to one another, so the easiest way to do it is to exchange the children every other week.
However, it’s important to remember that there are special occasions that can complicate the schedule. It’s wise to address these in advance so that everyone knows what to expect. Below are a few examples.
Dividing the holidays
First of all, consider major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving or New Year’s. Do you want to switch holidays every other year? Do you want to divide holidays in half, such as having the children spend Christmas morning with one parent and then the afternoon with the other? Or do you want to exchange holidays, such as taking Thanksgiving so that your ex can have Christmas?
Addressing birthdays
For children, birthdays are also very important dates, but this can be complex. Both parents may want to be involved. Are you open to doing a joint birthday so that you can both be there? If the birthday falls on the week when your ex has custody, do you have a right to visit your child so that you can at least see them on this special day? You may also want to address things like Father’s Day or Mother’s Day.
Special events
Finally, it may be wise to consider significant events in your child’s life. How are you going to handle graduation from high school? What does your custody schedule say about sporting events, school functions, band concerts, drama club productions and things of this nature?
In essence, the more planning you can do in advance, the more likely it is that things will go smoothly. Be sure you carefully consider all of your legal options while working through the child custody process.