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Unlike Thanksgiving, Halloween might not have been among the list of holidays you and your former spouse fought over during your divorce, so if this spooky holiday was not addressed in your parenting plan, you and your co-parent will need to find a solution. Thankfully, this is not the horror story you might think it is and there are many ways for your family to celebrate Halloween without screaming.
Celebrating Halloween in the Aftermath of a Divorce
If you have young children, they probably look forward to dressing up, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins every year. For parents, this can be a fun bonding experience to share with their kids, so it is understandable that both parents would want to partake in these activities. However, if you and your co-parent are not on the best of terms or simply are unsure of how to go about this day, you might be at a loss. We compiled some tips to help you navigate this situation.
Here are some ways for you to make Halloween an enjoyable experience for everyone:
- Trick-or-treat together: If you are on relatively amicable terms and can get through an evening without arguing, consider taking the kids out to trick-or-treat together. Not only will this give you both a chance to watch your children load up on tasty treats, but you can also team-up on ensuring they do not do anything that might jeopardize their safety.
- Split the day: Not every parent is wild about trick-or-treating. If you would prefer to carve pumpkins with your kids or watch them at the school Halloween costume contest, you might want to consider splitting the day with your co-parent. One parent can have them during the day and the other can spend the evening trick-or-treating with them.
- Start new Halloween traditions: Another option for parents who are not partial to trick-or-treating is to simply start new Halloween traditions. If you do not plan on taking your kids trick-or-treating, then it would not matter if you spent Halloween with them. You could celebrate with them the day before or after. You could help them make their costumes or watch spooky movies. The possibilities are endless.
- Alternate with your co-parent: If you both want to spend Halloween with your children and cannot find any other way around it, consider alternating between years. You could celebrate with them on odd years and your co-parent can celebrate with them on even years.
Keep in mind that, ultimately, your decisions should satisfy the best interests of your children. As much as you would both love to spend this day with them, it should not be at their expense nor should it result in greater stress and anxiety. Consider their wants and needs as you ponder over your options.
Speak to an Experienced Family Law Attorney About Your Case
If you are facing a difficult family law matter, the team at Casey, Simmons & Bryant, PLLC can help you get through it. Our attorneys are backed by more than 30 years of combined legal experience and a track record of proven success.
Call our office at (731) 256-0023 to schedule a free consultation.
