Juliette Dalrymple
The tree has gone, the lights are in the attic and the last stray bits of tinsel have been taken from under the sofa. Christmas has passed for another year.
So, the last thing I expected to be talking about at the end of January, is Christmas 2017 and 2018 – but that is exactly what happened when some parents visited me this week with Christmas at the top of their agenda!.
Seeing my surprise, both parents agreed, “We got it wrong this year and the children spent all their time on the motorway, not enjoying Christmas. We want to do better next year and if we start now it gives everyone the time to plan and get used to new ideas.”
As a mediator, I had to admire their forward planning, recognition of what needed to be changed and their focus on the future and their children’s needs.
I put together some proposals for December 2017. Starting the planning so early gives the parents time to go away and think about what has been discussed and talk to other important people in the children’s lives. I’ll give them a summary of what we’ve discussed and they can use it to put together some ideas for our next mediation session, so they’ll have arrangements made in plenty of time for Christmas 2017.
Remember there are only 331 days until next Christmas! It’s never too early to start planning!
Juliette Dalrymple, January 2017
