Look at the timesharing schedule in your agreement or final judgment. Become familiar with specific holidays, dates and the times the kids are supposed to be with you, or the other parent.
Make your holiday and travel plans in advance. Send a nicely worded confirmation email of the holiday schedule to the other parent to avoid disagreements early on.
Be flexible. Relatives can make special visits during the holidays, and it might be the only time of year seeing the children is possible. Fostering relationships with extended family is considered in the children’s best interest.
If your divorce is ongoing, spending the holidays with your soon to be ex and his or her family is way too much stress right now. After the wounds heal, think about taking the high road and sharing a holiday instead of splitting or alternating one.
A little pre-planning and communication can save you a lot of emotional and financial expense. This is a special time of the year for children and parents. The weather has cooled, kids are on vacation, and work may have slowed for you. Try to make it the best time of year. An article with similar advice is available at WebMD here.