If your children are sharing Christmas between you and your ex-partner, you will need to talk to your children and explain that they will have two Christmases at each house. Make it exciting for them and encourage them throughout the Christmas period, and make sure it doesn’t turn into a competition.
- Give them reassurance that Christmas will still be special for them
- Leave your children with a positive and happy memory of Christmas, rather than a negative and upsetting memory of parents at war
- Plan ahead and try to talk your ex-partner, then you can be prepared for what Christmas may bring
- Try not to worry! The most important thing to come out of this arrangement is for your children to know that you are still prepared to work together and that you both still love them
Haley Farrell, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Family Care at Broudie Jackson Canter, comments:
“We find that there is a rise in people enquiring about relationship breakdowns after the Christmas holidays and we tend to see that the Christmas holidays can be a ‘make or break’ time for many couples. Spending two whole weeks with your family, on an already stressed relationship, can be the last straw. Alternatively, couples may have already decided to separate but want to enjoy the Christmas holidays before they take action, especially if they want the children to enjoy Christmas and not have disruption.
However, stresses and tensions that run high have many adverse effects upon relationships and children. It is not uncommon that around the Christmas break there is an increase in people seeking legal advice and support to help with matrimonial difficulties. So do not feel alone if this is happening to you.
Christmas contact may be subject to change, therefore let the contact arrangements change if needed, this will make Christmas easier for the children and in the long run, easier for you.
What should also be remembered is that there is more than one form of contact. Today is a modern world filled with emails, text messages and mobile phones. Just because a parent may only see the children every other weekend, doesn’t mean to say that they can’t communicate with their children or wish them goodnight, especially around the Christmas holidays."
The most important step is to ensure that any worries that you may have do not have an impact on the children. If you wish to talk through any worries that you may have, or wish to discuss a plan for Christmas contact, then the time is now.
Broudie Jackson Canter can provide you with further detailed advice in relation to any family law matter. If you would like to talk to one of our specialist family law advisers about Father's Rights & Mother's Rights, please click here for a call back or message us your enquiry.