“Don’t wait until the school holiday is here to work out parenting arrangements”, says Juliette from Family Matters Mediation.
With Christmas lights appearing in shops and homes across our region, worries about where children will spend the holiday period are in the minds of many separated parents.
“Parenting arrangements that work well all year round can stop working when the schools break up in December and routines change,” says Juliette, mediator and director at Family Matters.
“Even those with well-established arrangements can find it a struggle to work out which parent the child will spend time with on which days over Christmas.”
The festive period creates other complications too.
- How will the child see grandparents and other extended family members?
- What about all the travel arrangements, and how they will be funded?
- How might a parent’s new partner fit into the equation?
Anything other than a time of joy
“The stresses can mount up, leading to long-standing resentments between the parents resurfacing. It can lead to Christmas being anything other than a time of joy for many separated families,” adds Juliette.
As accredited family mediators we are often asked for help by separated parents who cannot agree between themselves what will work best for the children during the school break.
The time they will spend with each parent during this period can be tricky to agree and, as we head into December, the stress levels rise.
We can help separated parents work out a plan that fits their unique family circumstances, and our advice is to get in touch soon. Don’t leave it until the last minute.
Making the arrangements in good time will give certainty to both parents, bringing you peace of mind. And it means the children know what is coming in the weeks ahead, giving them the best chance of having a happy Christmas break.
Read our article: Twelve tips for Christmas for separated and separating families
If you can’t come to mediation, try to put yourselves in your children’s shoes over Christmas. How much fun is it to leave all your presents in the middle of the day to go to another parent’s house, open more presents and potentially have a second turkey dinner. Who are the arrangements being made for, the parent or the child? Remember the best present any child can have is time with and attention from their parent
You can find out more about the benefits of family mediation on our webpages or you can call us on 03300 881440 to discuss your concerns further and make an appointment to see one of our mediators.
You don’t have to come to us if you wish to take part in mediation. We offer convenient online mediation wherever you are.
