Sitting down to make a parenting plan with the child’s other parent could be an emotional strain. However, Mom and Dad are likely to be better off putting aside their differences and focusing on the task as a team. The Florida Courts warn that when parents are not able to create a time-sharing agreement on their own, the matter is placed in the hands of a Florida judge, instead.
Although most people immediately bring up Christmas, Thanksgiving and major school breaks when working on their parenting plan agreement, CustodyXChange points out that it is important to widen the scope of the holiday schedule discussion. Parents should come prepared with more than just a short-list of the year’s major celebrations. They should also be ready to divide the following three-day weekends:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
There are also many other days throughout the year when the child is out of school, such as teacher preparation days or Veterans Day. Rather than assuming that the parent who has the child at the time will have that day, these may be used to schedule special parent-child activities.
Moms usually want Mother’s Day and fathers want Father’s Day, and both parents would probably also like to have the child with them on their own birthdays. Parents who observe religious practices and holidays may miss out on opportunities to teach their children about their faith if these days are not included in the schedule. Occasions that are special for personal reasons may be bargained for, too.
