Timesharing Around Holidays and Festivals

Deciding how timesharing will work can be thorny when parents split. While day-to-day schedules are typically top of mind, it’s also important to recognize that holidays and special events can create conflict if not addressed in advance.

Families should recognize that once traditional holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are addressed, it’s time to also consider local festivals, school breaks, and community events that play a big role in children’s lives. To secure the dates that you want to share with your children, connect with a Port St. Lucie family law attorney.

Why Thinking Ahead Matters

Holidays and festivals are times when children make lasting memories. If parents don’t plan ahead, disagreements may arise about who spends time with the children during special occasions. A clear schedule helps reduce stress, avoids last-minute disputes, and gives children stability, allowing them to enjoy the season rather than worry about parental conflict.

Parents have several options when it comes to dividing holiday and festival time:

• Alternating years. One parent has the children for Thanksgiving in odd-numbered years, the other in even-numbered years.
• Splitting the holiday. For example, Christmas Eve with one parent and Christmas Day with the other.
• Fixed holidays. If one parent consistently celebrates a certain holiday, such as Easter or Passover, that parent may have priority for that event each year.
• Local festivals and events. In St. Lucie County, events like the St. Lucie County Fair, the Treasure Coast Seafood Festival, or Fort Pierce’s Friday Fest might hold special meaning for your family. Parents can agree to alternate or share these days to ensure children continue to enjoy community traditions.

Planning Around St. Lucie County’s Calendar

St. Lucie County offers a variety of cultural and recreational events that children look forward to every year. When creating your parenting plan, it’s worth thinking about how certain times of year will fit into the plan.

For instance, many families take advantage of the Treasure Coast’s beaches during school breaks. The Port St. Lucie Christmas Parade and other seasonal festivals are often family traditions, too. By identifying these events in your plan, you give your children the opportunity to continue participating in local traditions, even while adjusting to life with two households.

An experienced Port St. Lucie family law attorney can help parents anticipate potential conflicts and draft parenting plans that reflect the unique needs of the family. Addressing major holidays and local events from the start is helpful as you ensure a smoother co-parenting transition.

Timesharing during holidays and festivals is about more than logistics, it’s about preserving family traditions and giving children stability. Look ahead and include St. Lucie County’s major events in your parenting plan. Then, you can create a balanced schedule that benefits everyone involved. Thoughtful planning today sets the stage for more joyful, stress-free celebrations in the future.

Have you thought through holidays and special events as you create a parenting plan with your soon-to-be-ex spouse? Share your concerns and hopes for the future with the legal team at Baginski, Brandt & Brandt. When you are ready to schedule a confidential consultation, simply reach out.