Halloween and Co-Parenting
Halloween can be a source of dispute for many separated parents – especially if there is no agreement or court order that details what happens with the kids. Also, this year Halloween is on a Sunday – a common exchange day and a lot of separated parents ae going to find the hand-off time being smack dab in the middle of the prime candy grabbing hours.
Follow these tips for making a less stressful Halloween for the little ones – remember they just want the candy and to have fun.
Talk to the other parent well in advance about your thoughts for Halloween – throwing out your ideas a few days in advance is not likely going to cut it.
Think long and hard about what the kids want – so they want both parents to take them out? Do they want to stay in their main neighbourhood and run around with their friends? – TIP: the answer to both is likely “yes”.
Be flexible and if the relationship between you and the other parent is good enough – offer to go trick-or-treating together (even if it is supposed to be “your” turn **see what the kids want above).
If you can’t trick or treat together with your ex, then consider proposing a hand-off in the same neighbourhood so you each get some time with the kids without the kids being bundled up and driven across town.
Halloween is a special time for kids and they only have a short number of years before the magic of strangers giving them candy is gone. As separated parents, I think we owe it to them to make sure their memories of Halloween are happy ones and not of mom and dad screaming at each other or putting them in the middle of their dispute.
Happy Halloween and if you need to discuss some options for removing Halloween or other holiday conflicts give us a call.