Many families in Alaska are gearing up for the 2022 holiday season. In households where a divorce has recently taken place, this year’s festivities may be somewhat stressful, as the parents and children do their best to adapt to a new lifestyle. Nothing can ruin the holiday spirit like a child custody dispute, which is why it is a good idea to think ahead and implement ideas that help ward off such problems.
If parents are willing to work together for their children’s sake, it is possible to create a detailed schedule that leaves little room for confusion or dispute regarding children’s holiday celebrations. If a former spouse is not cooperative, or, worse, is intentionally trying to cause trouble, it is always best to reach out for additional support as soon as possible, especially if the issue of concern is a legal matter. Divorce is never easy for kids, but it does not have to ruin their holidays.
Agree to trade off holidays or spend them together
If the parents get along well enough, they might decide to share the holidays that are most important to their children. This enables kids to enjoy festivities, without having to worry about traveling back and forth between two households. If being together is not the most viable option, the parents might agree to trade off on custody for holidays with a rotating schedule. For instance, one year, kids spend a particular holiday with one parent, and, the next year, with the other.
Resolve child custody issues in a peaceful manner
Children often experience stress throughout a divorce because of parental conflict. To maintain as joyful an atmosphere as possible during the holidays, any child custody issues that arise are best addressed in private, in an amicable fashion. If this is not possible, a concerned parent may reach out for legal guidance to keep a child custody problem from escalating into a full-blown family crisis during the holidays.