Take the stress out of holiday child custody disputes

The time for hanging mistletoe, decking the halls and decorating the tree is here. This joyous holiday season is one that brings smiles to many. For parents who are facing the reality that they won't get to spend the entire holiday with their children, those smiles might be hard to come by. Our divorced readers in Virginia might be interested in learning some ways that they can minimize the holiday tensions caused by child custody issues.

One thing that parents can do during the holiday season is realize that the other parent will likely make some decisions about the child. Of course, big decisions should usually be made jointly. Smaller decisions like which video game or present to buy aren't really joint decisions. Not trying to keep your nose in every choice your ex makes can take some stress out of the holidays. The same goes for your ex keeping his or her nose out of your choices.

Another way you can keep the peace is to work together as soon as possible to finalize arrangements and schedules for your child. This leaves more time for compromise or to seek outside help if there are any areas of contention.

Finally, make sure that you are willing to work with your ex about the children. Trying to stick hard and fast to a normal visitation schedule might seem like a good idea, and in some cases, it is, but you should think about what is best for your child. Don't make your child miss out on events with your ex just so you can have the child sit at home with you because it is your day unless there are valid safety issues or other issues that play into your decision.

If the need arises, you can have your custody agreement scrutinized by someone familiar with child custody matters. That agreement might already have the answers to some of the issues you and your ex are having.

Source: Communities Digital News, "Having happy famil