The holiday season can be one of the most joyous, but also one of the most stressful times for families everywhere. Balancing family traditions, legal agreements and being a present parent can feel overwhelming and sometimes very frustrating. It’s important to know your rights as a divorced father when it comes to access to your children around the holidays.
Reviewing Parenting Plan
Being prepared is going to provide you with the most benefits in the long run. It’s vital that you review the parenting plan that you and your former spouse agreed upon when you separated, and that you are familiar with its terms and conditions. Typically, your parenting plan should clearly state which parent gets the children on which specific holidays, along with travel allowances and restrictions. One way to avoid disputes is to have constructive conversations as far in advance as possible, so that you aren’t forced to communicate at the very last minute, risking your time with your children being negatively impacted. Having your plan laid out in advance not only benefits you as the father, but also the child themselves as they will have a clear idea of how their holiday season will look. If you wish to amend or change your plan, you can ask a judge for an order pertaining to child custody and visitation. You can also change an order that’s already in place if you wish to do so.
Communication
Communicating as clearly and respectfully with your co-parent is essential if you want to come to some sort of compromise. If you have an issue with the parent plan that’s in effect, it’s important to let them know by voicing your concerns in a polite way. Naturally, people are much more willing to listen and find compromise when being spoken to calmly. It’s also important to keep those types of communication centered around your child and what is best for them. Emphasizing how you value your time with them and want to be present as their father only highlights how much you care and are determined to do your part. This type of cooperation also sets a good example for your children.
Be Flexible and Open to Compromise
While you should always voice your concerns and be as communicative as possible with your co-parent, unfortunately there may be times where the two of you fail to be on the same page. When this is the case, it’s important to be open to compromise. At the end of the day, both of you should want what is best for your children, and they should feel safe and secure while being able to enjoy their holidays with both of their parents. Having that level of flexibility and compromising skills will only make the process easier for you as you navigate through it.
Take Care of Yourself
Try your best to not let the stress of the holidays take a toll on your own mental health. Make sure you continue to spend time with friends and do not constantly obsess over how the holidays will go. Exercising and pursuing other hobbies will take your mind off of everything going on and provide you with mental relief even if it’s temporary. Prioritizing your self-care will not only benefit you, but your child/children in the long run. Showing emotional balance to your kids is such an important factor to demonstrate.
Understanding Legal Options
Having the right legal guidance can prevent small issues from turning into large problems. As a father, you have the right to legal representation that will listen to your concerns and do the absolute most to help you. The Men’s Legal Center in San Diego has a team of experienced family law attorneys that will do just that. Make sure you contact them for your free case review as soon as possible in order to receive the maximum amount of help available.