Child custody: Making a parenting time schedule for Thanksgiving

 Posted on October 20, 2017 in Child Custody

In America, Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays. It is also very much a family-centered holiday, which often presents a challenge to divorced families. Typically, both parents want to spend Thanksgiving with their kids and they struggle to find a mutually acceptable solution.

As with other elements of child custody, compromise is often the key in creating an acceptable holiday schedule. For parents who are able to think ahead, the Thanksgiving schedule can be addressed during their divorce proceedings. If it is too late to handle the holiday in this manner, consider one of the following child custody schedules for Thanksgiving and other holidays.

• Thanksgiving Day Split: One parent could celebrate the holiday with the children early in the day and the other parent could celebrate with them in the evening. This is also a good way to handle the weekend after Thanksgiving.
• Weekend/Thanksgiving Day Split: One parent will have the kids on Thanksgiving Day while the other parent celebrates with the children on the following weekend.
• Alternate Each Year: With this option, parents simply take turns celebrating the holiday with the children each year. This is often ideal for parents who reside many miles apart or in separate states and can enrich the time spent with the children.

At the least, these examples should get you and your co-parent thinking in the right direction. In the end, creating a holiday parenting arrangement that meets the needs of everyone is the ultimate goal. Parents in San Antonio, Texas, who struggle with these types of child custody issues can also reach out to a family attorney for advice.

Source: Custody X Change, “Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule Ideas,” accessed Oct. 20, 2017