From the Book: Divorce Amicably
This is a chapter summary from Chapter 6 of Divorce Amicably, a guide to navigating separation with dignity and cooperation.
Chapter 67 Author: Morgan Given
Morgan Given is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to families throughout the Chicagoland area. Her mission as an attorney is to help clients successfully navigate the tremendous emotional as well as legal difficulties associated with divorce, allocation of decision-making and parenting time (custody), removal, maintenance, orders of protection, mediation and other family law matters. Ms. Given takes on cases both big and small and has experience working with complex financial matters for clients with multi-million dollar businesses and assets. Ms. Given works tirelessly to achieve the best results for her clients, and believes that a good attorney truly understands and appreciates her client’s individual needs.
Why Holiday Schedules Matter
Holiday schedules are essential because they prevent confusion, conflict, and last-minute disputes. They ensure that children know exactly where they’ll be during meaningful occasions, allowing both parents to plan ahead. These schedules also take priority over the regular parenting schedule, giving holidays and breaks a clear, pre-determined structure.
The goal is simple: to keep the child’s well-being front and center while preserving family traditions and creating new ones.
Structuring a Holiday Schedule
Holiday parenting schedules are flexible and can be customized. A common template rotates holidays based on odd and even years, for example:
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New Year’s Day – Mom in even years, Dad in odd years
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Spring Break – Dad in even years, Mom in odd years
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Christmas Eve/Day – Alternated yearly
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Mother’s/Father’s Day – Reserved every year for the respective parent
Schedules can be adjusted for family traditions, school calendars, or religious holidays. For example, Winter Break may be divided into two parts, or one parent may alternate the entire break every other year to allow for extended travel.
Parents should also consider shorter holidays like Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, or teacher in-service days. These can be assigned to the parent who already has the adjoining weekend, minimizing extra exchanges for the child.
Benefits and Challenges of Holiday Scheduling
Adjustments and Modifications
Flexibility is key to making holiday schedules work long-term. Parents may agree to temporary changes for travel, special events, or emergencies. Any agreed changes should be confirmed in writing—via email, text, or co-parenting apps like Our Family Wizard—to prevent misunderstandings.
Judges often deny last-minute “emergency” motions over holidays, noting that families have ample time to plan. Proactive planning and communication are always better than relying on the court.
Protecting Traditions and Stability
Holidays should be a time of joy for children, not a source of conflict. A detailed, flexible, and fair holiday schedule ensures that both parents remain involved while prioritizing the child’s stability and happiness. Divorce Amicably provides the guidance you need to create schedules that prevent disputes and preserve traditions. Secure your copy today and build a plan that works for your family.
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