Now that another Halloween has passed, families in Kentucky are gearing up for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. They may be buying a turkey, making a guest list and doing some advanced holiday shopping. While preparing for the holidays can be just as fun as the holidays themselves, it can also be stressful. The stress is only compounded if parents in Kentucky are divorced.
In particular, difficulties can arise when it comes to child custodyschedules during the holidays. While many times a child custody and visitation order will lay out which household the child will spend which holiday at, that doesn't mean that complications will not arise, particularly when the court-ordered schedule does not mesh with a parent's real-life plans.
First of all, communication between parents can be key. If parents communicate their holiday plans to each other ahead of time, they can arrange ways to keep travel arrangements at a minimum, even if it means adjusting their parenting time temporarily. Waiting until the last minute to discuss holiday plans is often too late.
If a parent does not agree with their ex's plans for the holidays, he or she should make this known. Do it while things are still in the planning stages, rather than when the holiday itself is occurring. Parents may need to be flexible during such times. It is important to also keep in mind that the holidays are about family, and children should be given the opportunity to spend time and develop a loving relationship with extended family members.
In the end, the holidays are about the children. Children should not be made to feel caught in the middle of a messy divorce or its aftermath. By putting the children first this holiday season, parents in Kentucky can do their best to meet the needs of their child during what should be a joyful and celebratory time of year.