While it’s still hot and steamy on the Texas Gulf Coast, it won’t be long until Thanksgiving and the winter holidays arrive. For divorced parents of minor children, these holidays can be fraught with tension.
This is especially true if you are recently separated or divorced. In some cases, there may be no custody or co-parent agreement filed with the family law court. Below are a few tips to reduce the stress of holiday custody schedules.
Learning the art of compromise
It can be tough to come to a meeting of the minds with a soon-to-be ex-spouse. But for the children’s sake, it is very important to keep the kids’ best interests foremost in all your custody decisions.
For instance, unless there are serious problems with your former spouse’s extended family members, it typically is beneficial to the children to spend time with relatives who arrive from out-of-state to celebrate the holidays. When possible, work together to facilitate the best possible holiday experience for your children.
Stipulate the terms of travel in your agreement
When filing your custody agreement with the court, be sure to address whether either parent can take the kids with them during vacations out of Texas. For instance, while you might not mind allowing your children to cross state lines to spend the holidays with their cousins in Lafayette, Louisiana, you may feel quite differently about travel plans out of the United States. Get as granular as necessary when agreeing to the terms of holiday custody schedules.
Learn about your rights and responsibilities as custodial parents
Texas refers to parenting plans as “conservatorships,” a term that can have very different meanings in other states. Learning how our state’s system works can help you draft a workable parenting plan that meets your family’s unique needs.