5 Ideas on How to Share Your Child with an Ex During the Holidays

Wondering how to share your child with an ex during the holidays? Most likely, you both want him, but have different ideas on how to accomplish this feat. Well, before you get upset and call an attorney to schedule a court date, get creative. Other parents in your shoes work out an amicable arrangement doing one of the five things. Do:

1. Celebrate on different days. You don't have to stick to the traditional dates for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. Agree to allow the parent who cherishes these holidays the most and has the 'healthiest' family keep the child. Then, the other one can commemorate these days a little early or late.

2. Spend your holidays together as one big happy family. Set aside your differences and give your child the best of both worlds. Sharing your child with an ex in this manner shows the best side of being human. During your time together, you can model for him a picture of peace, love and happiness so he truly understands what family is all about.

3. Alternate custody on holidays. You take Thanksgiving Day and let your ex have Christmas or vice versa. This set up will give your children an opportunity to have special moments with both of you. As a result, he won't completely miss out on the festivities with either side of his family. Also, if the other parent resides in another state and is struggling, be benevolent and help chip in for airfare.

4. Split your child's holiday in half. Sharing your child with an ex during the holidays in this manner works best for parents who don't get along well. You take your child in the morning and allow your ex to have him at night. As a result, he gets to see both of his parents for the holidays. Be sure to keep your promise on the drop off time. By blowing it, you might be ruining your ex's and child's plans.

5. Give your ex all of the holidays. This last suggestion is probably the most difficult one. By allowing your ex to have custody of your child on every holiday, he gets to look like the 'fun' parent. Regardless, you might be doing your child a favor. Because he always knows where he'll be on the major holidays, he'll have more stability in his life.

These five ways to share your child with an ex during the holidays can improve your family dynamics. Instead of battling for time with your child, you appear as a united front. You also lower the amount of stress you have throughout the year. These two pros are worth the extra work you'll do setting up your agreement.

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Parents: How to Build Your Child's Faith
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