The holiday vacation can be a stressful time because kids are out of school. Where a single parent in most instances can not be at home, they will have to pay for daycare and or contend with a house full of unattended kids around.
Divorced parents often disagree on Christmas day or other important days during the holiday season. Every one has their own traditions and when parents are divorced they tend to believe their ideas supercede that of the other parent. The rate of contempt filings around Christmas increase – most are dropped by January. First off, if parents agree on the dates then that is the way to go. However, if you can’t agree look to your agreement or Final decree for the schedule that is set out. If you don’t have a schedule, after the holidays see if you can get one!
Present buying for the other parent. Do not feel obligated to buy presents for your children to give to their other parent. If you feel that it is important that your children do think of the other parent, keep it small and practical. Let the children pick it out and only guide them for items that are appropriate and in the price range you designated. Do not expect that they will reciprocate, you will only be disappointed. When giving gifts: Check with custodial parent what child may need. Don’t try and compete and get similar gifts. If the parents want to the child something big and expensive, they could coordinate and get it for the child together, or if it has several parts, have each get a part. Such as one get roller blades, and the other get the pads, helmet and bag. Remember that the holidays for children are a special time and competition and bad feelings should not enter into the gift buying/giving. Don’t buy items just to spite the other parent, like drum set for the 2 years old, or play-dough or glitter that you know that the child could make a mess with and will not be allowed or that the other parent will not allow.
Take into consideration where the child will be spending the holiday and don’t hold out the gifts for when the child will be visiting if the time period is greater than a few weeks. Use toy buying Internet services that ship like www.e-toys.com, www.toysrus.com , www.snap.com, to make sure the items are shipped on time.
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