The days and weeks between November and January are filled with turkey, tinsel, trees,  and … tears? Parents usually strive to make the holiday season enjoyable and memorable for their children, but pulling off a fun and tear-free holiday season can sometimes be tricky — especially when parents are newly divorced. Here are a few tips on surviving the holiday season for recently divorced parents.

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The holidays go quickly and it is important that children have enough time to spend with both of their parents and their extended families. Setting up a visitation schedule — including details about transportation between households — is key to establishing expectations and stability for the holiday season. Depending on the age of the children, you may want to get their input regarding when and for how long they like to visit with each family member. Creating a schedule takes the guesswork out of how the holiday time will be spent, diminishes the chance for arguments, and helps communicate to the children that spending time with them is still a top priority for each parent.

Parents should resist the urge to try to outdo each other when it comes to gift giving — particularly if one parent is more financially stable than the other. Generally, children need and want to feel loved by both parents, and parents trying to out-give each other during the holidays can lead to emotionally damaging and harmful consequences, both now and over time.

It may be a good idea for parents to agree to a financial limit for each gift given to their children. Depending on the degree of co-parenting, parents may even want to purchase gifts together so that the children receive the same gifts from both parents. Another suggestion is to purchase gifts that complement each other. For instance, if one parent purchases a tablet for their child, the other could purchase the tablet cover and other accessories and a certain number of apps for the tablet. Collaborating giving presents will help to foster an atmosphere of love rather than competition, which is what custody law is always trying to achieve.

One of the best ways for parents to prevent disappointment from their children during the holidays is to follow through with the established plans. Parents should make every effort to be on time when picking up the children from the other parent’s house. Parents should also purchase the gifts they promised they would. Lastly, parents should resist the urge to let someone else’s last-minute holiday plans — a last-minute holiday party invitation, for instance — interrupt the predetermined visitation schedule. By being consistent with the set plans, parents show their children that they are the priority, which is a message that parents should want to show their children during the holiday season and beyond. If you’re looking for family law advice, you can take away one thing: stick to the plan.

If you are divorcing and need help creating a parenting plan for the holiday season and the remaining parts of the year, you should speak to a custody attorney who can answer your questions, provide family law advice, and help guide you through the custody law process. The knowledgeable and skilled custody attorneys at The Fairell Firm can provide the assistance you need. We serve clients in the metro Atlanta area and Tucker, and we work tirelessly with family law to help you get the outcome you want. Call today at 678.973.2803 or contact us to schedule a consultation.