2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
It is generally recognized in family law that the end-of-year celebrations must be divided equitably between the parents. But, what happens in the context of a pandemic?
Gatherings permitted during Holidays 2021
The situation related to the coronavirus pandemic is changing rapidly. He alth guidelines provide that private gatherings of a maximum of 10 people will be permitted between December 24 and December 27. It is also recommended to limit yourself to 2 gatherings per family. Updated holiday he alth guidelines can be viewed by clicking here.
Equitable sharing of festive days
Some parents choose to share Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (for example, the 24th with dad and the 25th with mom, alternating every other year) and do the same for New Year's Day. Others choose to split the holidays in two: dad will be with the children on Christmas in even years and with them on New Year's Day in odd years, and vice versa.
This principle of equitable sharing must be applied to the days of festivities that will be allowed by the government for the year 2021, so that children canbenefit from the rare opportunities to see each parent's "little extended family" this year.
How to determine who takes the children when?
Parents should keep in mind that this is an exceptional situation. They have a responsibility to find a solution between themselves and to compromise.
Some concrete solutions:
Problem:Jonathan had to pick up the children on the 24th and 25th and Julie on the 31st and the 1st;
Solution:Jonathan will keep December 24 or 25 this year and Julie, who will have to redo her plans for New Year's Day anyway, will take December 26 or 27 December;
Problem:Amelie has custody of her son Leo. His ex-spouse, Marie, sees Leo every other weekend; Marie was scheduled to be with Leo from Thursday December 25 to Monday December 28;
Solution:Marie could bring Léo back on December 27 in the morning so that he can enjoy 2 days of festivities with Amélie, while celebrating Christmas with each of his mothers;
Problem:Martin and Françoise have shared custody. Martin was to take the children with him on the 24th, and Françoise from the 25th to the 26th; Martin would have picked up the children on the 27th at 4:00 p.m. for his care week;
Solution: the alternation works, but Martin could bring his call time up to the morning of December 27 to take full advantage of his "festive" day;
Problem: Bernard and Catherine had not yet agreed toThis year; they would each like to have 2 consecutive days with the children, as they both have to go to their parents' house about 50 minutes away; everyone would prefer to have December 24 and 25;
Solution: It's a special year, parents understand it well and decide to flip a coin! Bernard wins and will have the children with him on the 24th and 25th and next year Catherine will spend Christmas with the children.
Did you get along? Write it down
Keep a written record of your agreements on this subject (exchange of emails, etc.), and the agreed repercussions for next year, if this is the case. This way you will avoid unnecessary arguments between you.
Discuss it now and as needed in family mediation
The best way to avoid conflict is to agree in advance on how to share statutory holidays.
Aren't you able to chat effectively with each other? The breakup is too recent and you have trouble getting along? Can't find a way to get there? Consider consulting a family mediator near you. It's free and most of them are offering remote sessions during the pandemic.
